COVER PLATE WITH REMOVABLE COVER AND USES OF THE SAME

Abstract

A cover plate 1 for closing an opening comprises a frame 5 that defines the opening 6, and a cover 3 that closes the opening in a closed position. In a closed position, the frame 5 holds the cover 3, and an actuating element 25 is used to move the cover 3 to an open position in which it can be removed from the frame 5 to allow access to a rear side BS via the opening 6. The actuating element 25 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 31, which runs parallel to a plane of the cover plate. The pivoting movement of the actuating element 25 about its pivot axis 31 causes the cover 3 to be adjusted perpendicular to the frame 5 into the open position, in order to remove the cover 3 from the frame 5.

Description

AREA OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to cover plates that can be opened to provide access to a rear side, and in particular to cover plates comprising a frame defining an opening and a cover held in the frame, wherein the cover can be opened and removed from its front side to provide access to a rear side via the opening, for example for repair or maintenance purposes. Further aspects of the present invention relate to specific uses of such a cover plate. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Such cover plates can be used, for example, in the side walls of classified areas, such as cleanrooms, or as parts of housings, such as machine enclosures, to ensure safe and hygienic working conditions when the cover or panel is closed, while still allowing access to the rear via an opening when needed. Often, it is necessary to restrict access to the cover or panel to authorized personnel only. Such restrictions may be particularly important for applications in very expensive machinery or in classified areas, such as cleanrooms, for example, to remove filter covers for replacing air filters located on the rear of the machine.In such applications, completely closed surfaces without openings may be preferred to ensure hygienic working conditions.

[0003] EP 0 291 783 B1 discloses a filter module for cleanroom ceilings and walls or the like, comprising a high-efficiency particle filter that can be interchangeably attached to the pressure chamber or pressure box by means of clamping and sealing elements. Sealing areas are provided between the particle filter frame and the pressure chamber or pressure box, with a gap between them that opens only to a cavity in the ceiling or side wall. The sealing areas comprise a horizontal flange and a cover or baffle held in a mounting frame and penetrated from top to bottom by threaded bolts that also extend through associated holes in the flanges of the mounting frame. Other flanges of the mounting frame are clamped against a seal by means of wing nuts that interact with the threaded bolts.Opening the filter module can be a time-consuming process that requires loosening several wing nuts.

[0004] US 5,993,311 A discloses a ceiling structure for cleanrooms, comprising a supporting structure and filter units that include a filter frame and a filter attached to that filter frame, the filter frames being connected to the supporting structure. The supporting structure has at least one sealing strut extending into at least one groove for liquids and includes brackets and rails. The configuration of the ceiling structure is relatively complex and includes many different components.

[0005] Many different opening mechanisms are known from the prior art, including mechanisms that involve a pivoting action of a cover or panel, or a combination of linear adjustment and a pivoting action, to allow access to a space located behind it. Such mechanisms include mechanisms for a vehicle sunroof with a cover designed to close an opening in the vehicle roof in the closed position and which can be pressed upwards at its trailing edge so that, in an open position, it is raised at least relative to its closed position, as disclosed, for example, in US 6,158,803 A or US 2004 / 0232,737 A1.

[0006] A similar opening mechanism is disclosed in DE 10 2023 116 334 A1, for use in a loading flap unit of a motor vehicle, with a sliding mechanism designed to move the vehicle flap unit between a closed position in which an opening in a vehicle body is closed and a release position in which the opening within the vehicle body is released.

[0007] There is a continuing need for cover plates or panels with an opening mechanism that can be operated intuitively and with minimal effort, and is particularly suitable for use in environments that require hygienic but safe working conditions, for example in expensive machinery or in classified work areas, such as cleanrooms.

[0008] US 4,970,836 A discloses a cover plate that covers an opening. Screw elements extend through the cover plate, and the tightening and loosening of the screw elements actuates a spring plate that is pivotally connected to the back of the cover plate and configured to release the cover plate.

[0009] EP 1 961 891 B1 discloses a cover plate comprising two pivotable locking elements accessible from the front and engaging behind a mounting frame in the locked position.

[0010] US 2014 / 0109484A1 discloses an installation in which a cover plate must be moved from right to left. First, one end of the spring-loaded spring plate is moved to the right to engage behind the element on the right side, and then the cover plate is moved to the left until the spring-loaded spring plate engages behind the element on the left side. To remove the cover plate, this process is performed in reverse order. This principle also differs significantly from our invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide a cover plate with an opening mechanism that can be operated intuitively and with minimal effort, and is particularly suitable for use in environments requiring hygienic yet safe working conditions. Furthermore, preferred applications of such a cover plate are to be provided.

[0012] These tasks are accomplished by a cover plate with the features of claim 1, by a machine or housing with the features of claim 18, and by a cleanroom with the features of claim 19. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of dependent claims.

[0013] According to the present invention, a cover plate or panel for machines or housings with flat or planar surfaces is provided, which is designed to be opened from its front to allow access to its rear via an opening, wherein the rear comprises a frame defining the opening and a cover or panel which covers or closes the opening in a closed state, wherein the frame is designed to hold the cover or panel in the closed state within the frame, wherein the cover is designed to be opened to an open state and removed from the frame in this open state, and wherein an actuating element is provided which is designed to move the cover or panel from the closed state to the open state for removal of the cover or panel.According to the present invention, the actuating element is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis which extends parallel to a plane of the cover plate or cover, wherein a pivoting movement of the actuating element about the pivot axis causes an adjustment of the cover or cover in a direction perpendicular to the frame into the open state, in order to remove the cover from the frame.

[0014] Because the cover and the cover plate can generally be completely closed over the entire surface and there are only small or insignificant gaps between the cover and the frame, the cover plate according to the present invention not only enables an appealing and aesthetically pleasing appearance, but is also perfectly suited to ensuring a hygienic and sterile working environment.

[0015] When open, the cover is not completely removed from the opening, but is typically only pivoted or rotated around its associated pivot axis by a relatively small angle and remains in the frame opening, preventing it from accidentally falling out. The angle of rotation is determined by the design and configuration of the actuator and is usually only a few degrees.

[0016] According to a further embodiment, the actuating element can comprise an actuating section on a first side of the pivot axis and an opening section on a second side of the pivot axis, opposite the first side. A pivoting movement of the actuating element about the pivot axis causes the opening section to come into contact with a rear side of the cover, the contact between these two elements driving the adjustment of the cover or aperture in the direction perpendicular to the frame into the open position, in order to remove the cover from the frame. The contact can be a direct contact between two opposing surfaces, but it can also be an indirect contact.act as an indirect device, mediated by an intermediate part, for example a projection, which is provided either on the back of the cover or on the opposite surface of the opening section of the actuating element.

[0017] According to a further embodiment, the frame can be rectangular and two actuating elements can be provided on two opposite sides of the frame, with the pivot axes of the actuating elements aligned with each other. Removing the cover from the opening thus requires actuating these two actuating elements in a sequential order, which helps to prevent the cover from accidentally falling out of the opening.

[0018] According to a further embodiment, each actuating element can be pivotally mounted on a pivot bracket, the pivot axis being spaced apart from a side wall of the cover or frame, with free front ends of the actuating section and the opening section projecting laterally beyond the pivot bracket. The distance between the actuating section or the opening section and the pivot axis determines the angle of rotation by which the cover is pivoted away from the frame of the cover plate.

[0019] According to another embodiment, the cover can be held on the frame by at least one fixed retaining element, which is attached to the frame or the cover and designed to hold the cover with a holding force acting perpendicular to the base of the frame. In general, any type of retaining element can be considered, for example, magnetic elements or even adhesive or bonding elements.

[0020] According to a further embodiment, the at least one fixed retaining element can hold the cover by means of a positive fit with an associated counter-element, which is attached to a rear side of the cover or to an underside of the frame, wherein a pivoting movement of the actuating element about the pivot axis can release the positive fit between the at least one fixed retaining element and the associated counter-element. This allows for a very controlled procedure for opening the cover.

[0021] According to a further embodiment, the positive locking between the at least one fixed retaining element and the associated counter element can be released when the actuating element is pivoted about the pivot axis and a rear side of the opening section comes into contact with the bottom of the frame.

[0022] According to a further embodiment, the at least one fixed holding element can be designed as a ball-shaped holding element and a free front end of the associated counter-element can be spherical.

[0023] According to a further embodiment, the cover may include a push-in element which is provided on an edge of the cover at a position corresponding to a position of the actuating section of the respective actuating element, wherein the push-in element is designed to be elastically pressed downwards in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the cover or aperture in order to drive a pivoting movement of the actuating section towards the bottom of the frame.

[0024] According to another embodiment, the pre-pressure element can be formed integrally with the cover at a position that corresponds to the position of the actuating section of the respective associated actuating element.

[0025] According to another embodiment, the push-in element can be attached to a rear side of the cover at a position that corresponds to the position of the actuating section of the respective associated actuating element.

[0026] According to a further embodiment, the pre-pressure element can be designed as an elastic tongue, which is formed by a U-shaped recess in the cover at a position corresponding to the position of the actuating section of the respective associated actuating element.

[0027] According to a further embodiment, a surface of the cover or panel can be closed at least along a circumference of the cover or panel, and an opening can be provided at an edge of the cover or panel at a position corresponding to a position of the actuating section of the respective associated actuating element, so that the actuating section can be actuated by a pin of a hand tool extending through the opening and driving a pivoting movement of the actuating section towards the bottom of the frame.

[0028] According to a further embodiment, a sleeve surrounding the opening can be provided on the rear side of the cover to guide the movement of the hand tool's pin, which drives the pivoting motion of the actuating section towards the bottom of the frame. Such a sleeve can further reduce the risk of contaminants entering the space behind it, which is covered by the cover.

[0029] According to a further embodiment, the frame and the cover can be rectangular, and two openings can be formed on two opposite sides of the cover, with the two openings aligned along a common side of the frame or the cover and parallel to it. The need for only two openings for the actuating tool to actuate the actuating element helps to further reduce the risk of contaminants entering the space behind it, which is covered by the cover.

[0030] According to another embodiment, the frame can include a vertical side wall extending perpendicular to a surface of the cover, and the opening of the frame is defined by four retaining strips that form a base of the frame and extend parallel to the surface of the cover. The edge of the opening in the frame can thus be L-shaped, which is useful for holding the cover in the frame once the actuating element (or all actuating elements) on one side of the cover has been moved to the open position, preventing the cover or panel from accidentally falling out of the opening.

[0031] According to another embodiment, the actuating element can be pivotably mounted on a swivel bracket fixed to the frame.

[0032] According to further embodiments, the actuating element can also be formed integrally with the cover, for example as an elastic section that is formed at a suitable position in the cover.

[0033] According to a separate but unified aspect of the present invention, a machine or housing is provided, in particular for use in a cleanroom or a classified room, comprising at least one cover plate, as disclosed below, which closes an opening in the machine or in the housing.

[0034] According to a separate but unified aspect of the present invention, a cleanroom, in particular for the processing of pharmaceutical packaging, is provided, comprising side walls that seal off a working area of ​​the cleanroom from an environment, characterized in that the side walls comprise at least one cover plate as described below, which closes off a space arranged behind it. TECHNICAL EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Moving or switching the cover or panel from its closed to its open position is simple and intuitive and usually requires only minimal effort. Because the end of the cover closest to the actuator(s) is typically only pivoted or rotated a relatively small angle around its associated pivot axis, the cover remains held in the frame even when open and does not accidentally fall out.

[0036] Because the cover and the cover plate can generally be completely closed across their entire surface, with only small gaps between the cover and the frame, the cover plate according to the present invention not only provides an attractive and aesthetically pleasing appearance, but is also perfectly suited to ensuring a hygienic and sterile working environment, particularly for cleanrooms or for machines or housings intended for use in cleanrooms. Only relatively small openings, if any, are required in the surface of the cover or panel near the associated actuating element. Because the associated actuating element is located very close to the rear of the cover, the risk of contaminants penetrating the space behind it, which is covered by the cover, can be minimized.

[0037] A cover plate according to the present invention can be used in many different types of applications. The cover plate according to the present invention is particularly advantageous in machines or housings for use in any working environment, especially for use in a working environment that requires hygienic and safe working conditions, for example in a cleanroom or in a classified area.

[0038] The cover plate can be used, for example, for the side walls of a cleanroom, in particular a cleanroom for the processing of pharmaceutical packaging, which seal off a classified working area of ​​the cleanroom from an environment, but which must be opened to allow access to a space or volume located behind it within the side wall, so that machine components, air filters and the like, which are installed in the space located behind it, can be repaired or serviced.

[0039] Moving or switching the cover or aperture from the closed position to the open position in a cover plate according to the present invention may require a hand tool with a pin having a specific cross-sectional shape that is precisely matched to the shape of the opening provided in the cover of the cover plate. When necessary, only authorized personnel may possess such a hand tool and open and remove the cover, for example, for repair or maintenance purposes. FIGURE OVERVIEW

[0040] The preferred embodiments according to the present invention are described below by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1a a cover according to the present invention in a closed state; Fig. 1b the frame of a cover according to the present invention in an open state; Fig. 2a a comparative view showing the conversion or switching of a cover plate according to the present invention from a closed state (shown with solid lines) to an open state (shown with dashed lines); Fig. 2b an enlarged view showing the actuating element of a cover plate according to the present invention in a closed state (shown with solid lines) and in an open state (shown with dashed lines); Fig. 3a a perspective view showing the pivoting bracket of a cover plate according to the present invention in a closed state on an enlarged scale and the interaction of a hand tool with the actuating element of the cover plate for transferring or switching from the closed state to the open state; Fig. 3b a perspective view showing the pivoting mount of a cover plate according to the present invention in an open state on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 4 a cover plate with an elastic tongue which is used to actuate the actuating element according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] In the drawings, identical reference symbols denote identical or technically equivalent elements or groups of elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXECUTION FORMS

[0042] The in Fig. The cover plate 1 shown in Figure 1a can be part of a larger side wall 2, which in turn can be part of a machine, an enclosure, or a side wall of a cleanroom, but could be used for any type of application and in many different environments. The cover plate 1 comprises a plate-shaped cover or panel 3 that covers or closes an opening 6 (see Figure 1a). Fig. 1b) The cover or aperture 3 preferably has a flat surface and its entire surface can be closed to close the underlying opening 6. In certain embodiments, the cover or aperture 3 may have openings or recesses that allow visual inspection of areas behind the cover or aperture 3 or gas flow through these openings or recesses, for example in the case of a filter cover for air filters in cleanrooms or classified areas.

[0043] The cover 3 is received in a frame 5 that completely surrounds the cover 3. Such a frame 5 can be integrated into the larger side wall 2 so that the surfaces of both the frame 5 and the cover 3 are flush with the other surfaces of the side wall 2. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, both the frame 5 and the cover 3 are rectangular, preferably with long sides and short sides of different lengths. However, the present invention is not limited to such specific shapes, as oval, circular, or polygonal shapes for both the frame 5 and the cover 3 are also conceivable.

[0044] To reliably hold the cover 3 within the frame 5, the frame 5 can include four strip-shaped support elements 50-53, on which the back of the cover 3 can be supported and which together form the central opening 6 of the frame 5, as well as a vertical side wall 54 (see figure). Fig. 2a), which connects the front of the frame 5 with the strip-shaped support elements 50-53 and extends perpendicular to the front of the frame 5.

[0045] In preferred embodiments of the invention, the cover or panel 3 is designed as a flat, sheet-metal-shaped element with a shape corresponding to the shape of the frame 5, as defined by the circumferential side wall 54. In other embodiments, the cover or panel 3 can also include a circumferential side wall extending perpendicular to the surface of the cover 3 and to the strip-shaped support elements 50-53 of the frame 5. The dimensions of the cover or panel 3 can be on the order of 30 cm to 100 cm in length and / or width, or even larger, depending on the specific operating conditions.

[0046] The width of any gap between the vertical side wall 54 of the frame 5 and the edges of the cover or panel 3 is kept as small as possible, for example, on the order of only 1 mm or even less, to ensure a good seal of the cover or panel 3, which can be important for many applications, such as cleanrooms used for processing pharmaceutical packaging. In any case, the gap between the vertical side wall 54 of the frame 5 and the edges of the cover or panel 3 is sufficiently large to allow a certain degree of pivoting or rotating of the cover 3 about the pivot axes 31, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0047] To hold or fix the cover or panel 3 firmly in the frame 5, retaining elements 10 are fixedly attached at suitable locations along the circumference of the frame 5. In preferred embodiments, such retaining elements 10 are arranged only on those sides of the frame 5 where the actuating elements 25 are located for moving or switching the cover or panel 3 from its closed state (in the Fig. 1a shown) into their open position (in the Fig. are arranged as shown in 1b.

[0048] The holding force exerted by the retaining elements 10 can act in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the cover 3, so that forces in the opposite direction are required to release or separate the cover 3 from the frame 5. The retaining elements 10 can be permanent magnets that are fixedly attached to the frame 5 and to the back of the cover 3. According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the retaining elements 10 are designed as retaining elements that can effect a positive fit, for example as pins, hooks, or the like. As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 2a, such positive-locking retaining elements 10 can be designed, in particular, as ball-type retaining elements comprising a first plate 10 that is fixedly attached to a retaining strip 50 of the frame 5 and has a recess 11 that forms a limited section. At a correspondingly associated position on the opposite side (the rear) of the cover or panel 3, a mounting plate 13 can be fixedly provided, from which a projection with a pin 14 extends perpendicularly from the rear of the cover 3. The pin 14 can have a spherical front end that fits precisely into the limited section of the opposite recess 11 to achieve the aforementioned positive locking, so that the cover 3 can only be removed from the frame 5 when a certain minimum force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the cover 3.

[0049] According to the present invention, the forces required to release the cover 3 from its closed position result from a pivoting movement of an actuating element 25, which is fixedly attached to one of the support strips 50-53 of the frame 5 (but can also be fixedly attached to the rear of the cover 3). More precisely, the actuating element 25 is pivotably mounted on a pivot bracket 26, which can be designed as a parallelepiped and which defines a pivot axis 31 extending in a direction parallel to the surface of the cover 3 and perpendicular to the vertical side wall 54 of the frame 5. As shown in the Fig. 2a and Fig. As can be seen in 2b, the pivot axis 31 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the cover 3, spaced apart from both the associated support strip 50 of the frame 5 and the back of the cover 3.

[0050] Each actuating element 25 comprises an actuating section 27, which is arranged on a first side of the pivot axis 31 and spaced apart from the pivot axis 31, and an opening section 28, which is arranged on a second side of the pivot axis 31, opposite the first side, and spaced apart from the pivot axis 31. When a force is exerted on the actuating section 27 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the cover 3, the actuating element 25 pivots or rotates about the pivot axis 31, thereby displacing the opening section 28 towards the rear of the cover 3 hi and finally bringing it into contact with the rear of the cover 3.As the actuating element 25 continues to rotate or pivot about the pivot axis 31, the opening section 28 exerts a force on the cover 3 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the cover 3 and away from the support strip 50 of the cover 5, due to the contact of its front end against the rear of the cover 3. Finally, the rear of the opposite actuating section 27 of the actuating element 25 can come into contact with the retaining strip 50 of the cover 5, thus ending the pivoting or rotating movement of the actuating element 25 about the pivot axis 31. As a result of this pivoting or rotating movement of the actuating element 25 about the pivot axis 31, the cover 3 is displaced in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the cover 3 and away from the support strip 50 of the cover 5, thereby moving the cover 3 from its closed position to an open position.The extent of this displacement or adjustment is determined by the geometry of the opening section 28, which acts as a lever, and its distance to the pivot axis 31, and is designed to be sufficient to release the cover 3 from its stable mounting in the frame 5, which may be the case, for example, if the aforementioned positive locking of the ball retaining element is completely released or if the attractive forces of the magnets become too weak in the forward-shifted open position of the cover 3.

[0051] As in the Fig. 1a and Fig. As shown in Figure 1b, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two actuating elements 25 are provided on two opposite sides of the frame 5, wherein the pivot axes 31 of both actuating elements 25 are aligned in a direction parallel to the surface of the cover 3 and perpendicular to the upright side wall 54 of the frame 5. The cover 3 is thus pivoted about a common pivot axis, which is preferably provided in the center of the corresponding side 50, 52 of the frame 5, because this results in the largest possible displacement or adjustment of the cover 3 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the cover 3.

[0052] How best to in the Fig. 3a and Fig. As shown in Figure 3b, the actuating element 25, viewed from above, can have the shape of an isosceles triangle, the base of which points towards the opening 6 of the frame 5 and the two equal legs of which point towards the vertical side wall 54 of the frame 5, because this allows a maximum angle for the pivoting or rotating movement of the actuating element 25 about the pivot axis 31. The corners of the base of such an isosceles triangle, which form the free front ends 27, 28 of the actuating element 25, are preferably rounded or block-shaped with rounded corners, so that the free front ends 27, 28 of the actuating element 25 can slide along the rear of the cover 3 or the support strip 50, thereby minimizing any friction and abrasion at the contact points.

[0053] The pivoting or rotating movement of the actuating element 25 about the pivot axis 31 can be the result of a repulsive magnetic force exerted by the front face FS of the cover 3 on the actuating section 27. This can be achieved by the actuating section 27 containing (or consisting of) a permanent magnetic material and the cover 3 being made of a non-magnetic material, for example, a plastic or non-magnetic stainless steel. In such embodiments, the surface of the cover or aperture 3 can be completely closed without openings.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, however, the pivoting or rotary movement of the actuating element 25 about the pivot axis 31 is the result of a mechanical force exerted on the actuating section 27 of the actuating element 25 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the cover 3. For this purpose, small openings 30 can be provided at positions corresponding to the positions of the actuating sections 27 of the actuating elements 25. As shown in the Fig. As shown in Figure 1a, these openings 30 are preferably provided near the edge of the cover or aperture 3, whereas all other sections of the cover 3 can be completely closed, depending on the requirements of the specific application. Because the distance between the actuating section 27 of the actuating element 25 and the rear of the cover 3 is relatively small in the closed position of the cover, and because the actuating section 27 of the actuating element 25 more or less completely covers the rear of the cover 3 near the opening 30, the risk of contaminants entering the space 55 behind the cover plate 1 is nevertheless very low.

[0055] To exert such a mechanical force in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the cover or aperture 3, a hand tool 70 is required, which is located in the Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b can have the form shown, with a handle 70 and a pin or tenon 71 with a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the opening 30. In the Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b The positions of the relevant elements of the cover plate 1 in the closed state are shown by solid lines and the relevant elements are designated by reference signs without an apostrophe ('), while the positions of the relevant elements of the cover plate 1 in the open state are shown by dashed lines and the relevant elements are designated by reference signs with an apostrophe ('). Pressing the front end of the pin 71 into the opening 30 of the cover 3 ultimately causes the free front end of the pin 71 to rest against the actuating section 27 of the actuating element 25 and the actuating element 25 to pivot or rotate about the pivot axis 31. The open position of the cover or aperture 3 is reached as soon as the cover or aperture 3 is released from the retaining elements 10.is released, which can be the case, for example, when the back of the actuating section 27 comes into contact with the support strip 50 of the frame 5.

[0056] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 2b, a sleeve 33 surrounding the opening 30 can be provided on the rear side of the cover 3 to guide the movement of the pin 71 of the hand tool 70 precisely in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the cover 3 and towards the actuating section 27 of the actuating element 25, which is aligned with this sleeve 33. Such a sleeve 33 can also serve to further minimize the risk of contaminants entering the rear space 55 from the front FS of the cover 3 via the openings 30 of the cover 3.

[0057] In this open position of the cover 3, the end of the cover 3 is on the side of the opening sections 28 of the actuating element 25 (in the Fig. 1b the upper end of the cover 3) pivots slightly away from the frame 5, while the opposite end of the cover 3 remains held in the frame 5. In the open position, the end of the cover 3 on the side of the opening sections 28 of the actuating element 25 is no longer held by the corresponding retaining element 10, whereas the opposite end of the cover 3 may still be held by the corresponding retaining element 10 at the opposite end of the cover 3. In this way, it is ensured that the cover 3 does not accidentally fall out of the frame 5 when the cover 3 is moved from its closed position to its open position. However, because the holding forces of at least some of the retaining elements 10 (in the Fig. Once the upper retaining elements 10) have been overcome, the cover 3 can be removed from the frame 5 from this open position without further force by holding the free end of the cover 3, which protrudes beyond the top of the frame 5 (in the Fig. 1b grasps the upper end of the cover 3) and pulls the cover 3 completely out of the frame 5. After removing the cover or panel 3 from the frame 5, access to the rear BS of the frame 5 is possible via the opening 6, where a base plate 56 may be provided to reliably hold machine components, such as air filters or motors. More generally, after removing the cover 3, a user can access a space or volume 55 located behind it via the opening 6 of the frame 5, which is covered or sealed by the cover 3 when closed. Such access may be necessary, for example, for repair or maintenance purposes. Because the cover or panel 3 isSince the aperture 3 of a cover plate 1 according to the present invention can generally be designed to be closed over its entire surface and can have only very small openings 30, a cover plate 1 according to the present invention is particularly suitable for applications that require a clean working environment or that need to maintain clean and hygienic conditions, in particular sterile conditions, for longer periods of time.

[0058] As will be evident to those skilled in the art, the actuating element can also be operated in many different ways without the use of additional tools that must be carried by personnel. An exemplary embodiment is described below with reference to the Fig. Figure 4 discloses, wherein the cover or aperture 3 comprises a pre-pressing element 35 which is formed integrally with the cover 3.

[0059] As in the Fig.As shown in Figure 4, a push-in element 35 is formed in the cover 3 at an edge of the cover 3 and at a position corresponding to a position of the actuating section of an associated actuating element, which can be elastically pressed downwards in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the cover 3 in order to drive a pivoting movement of the corresponding actuating section towards the bottom of the frame, as described above.

[0060] Here, the pre-pressure element 35 is formed integrally with the cover or panel 3, specifically as an elastic tongue 36, which is formed by a U-shaped recess 37 in the cover or panel 3. By pressing down the elastic tongue 36 in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the cover 3, the back of the elastic tongue 36 finally comes into contact with the corresponding actuating section of the associated actuating element, and by further pressing down the elastic tongue 36, the pivoting or rotary movement of the associated actuating section towards the bottom of the frame is then driven, as described above, so that the cover or panel 3 is then released from the frame at this position.

[0061] As will be evident to a person skilled in the art, a push-in element can also be attached to a rear side of the cover 3 at a position corresponding to the position of the actuating section 27 of the respective associated actuating element 25, and the elastic downward pushing of the cover 3 in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the cover 3 at this position can then be used to drive the pivoting movement of the associated actuating section towards the bottom of the frame, as described above, thereby releasing the cover 3 from the frame at this position.Such a pre-pressure element can, for example, be designed as a narrow cylindrical element attached to the rear of the cover 3 by gluing or welding, and which has a suitable length to substantially bridge the gap between the rear of the cover 3 and the opposite surface of the actuating section of the associated actuating element. This embodiment requires that the cover or aperture 3 be elastic at least at the position of the pre-pressure element, which can readily be achieved, for example, by making the cover or aperture 3 at least at this position from an elastic sheet material, such as a thin metal sheet or a thin plastic plate.In such embodiments, where the pre-pressure element is formed integrally with the cover 3, there is no need at all to provide an opening for actuating the actuating section of the actuating element.

[0062] Accordingly, a cover plate according to the present invention can be used for a machine or housing or for side walls or ceilings for use in any working environment, in particular for use in a cleanroom or in a classified room.

[0063] According to the present invention, the side walls of a cleanroom, in particular a cleanroom for processing pharmaceutical packaging, which seal off a classified work area of ​​the cleanroom from an environment, can comprise at least one cover plate configured as described above. Such a cover plate can be used to close off a space located behind it, in which important machine components, for example an air filter or fans for generating laminar flow within the classified work area, are installed. During operation, abrasion or dust caused by such machine components remains within the space located behind it and does not contaminate the classified work area. If necessary, the cover plate can be removed by taking off the cover or...The cover, as described above, must be opened to access the space or volume behind it, for example, for repair or maintenance purposes. Moving or switching the cover from the closed to the open position may require a hand tool with a pin of a specific cross-sectional shape, precisely matched to the shape of the opening in the cover. If necessary, only authorized personnel may possess such a hand tool and remove the cover, for example, for repair or maintenance purposes. Naturally, the cross-sectional shape of the hand tool's pin can be chosen arbitrarily, for example, triangular, polygonal, or oval.

[0064] Moving the cover or panel from its closed to its open position is simple and intuitive, and usually requires minimal effort. Because the end of the cover closest to the actuator(s) typically rotates only a relatively small angle around its pivot axis, the cover or panel remains securely in the frame even when open and does not accidentally fall out.

[0065] Because the cover or panel and the cover plate can generally be completely closed over their entire surface, and because only narrow gaps exist between the cover or panel and the frame, the cover plate according to the present invention can achieve an attractive and aesthetically pleasing appearance, since the surface of the cover or panel can be flush with the surface of the frame and with all other parts of a side wall that is encompassed by the cover plate. A cover plate according to the present invention is therefore perfectly suited to ensuring a hygienic and sterile working environment, particularly for cleanrooms.

[0066] As will be evident to those skilled in the art, a cover or fascia of a cover plate according to the present invention need not be flat over its entire surface. Any three-dimensional shape of such cover plates is also possible, in particular those without discontinuous surface sections, for example, without stepped sections. Both the cover or fascia and the frame can be made of any mechanically stable material, for example, plastic or metal, with metallic materials, for example, sheets of stainless steel, being preferred. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 cover plate 2 side wall 3 Cover 3' Cover in open position 4 workspace volume 5 frames 6 Opening 7 hand tools 10 retaining elements 11 recess 13 plate 14 pens 20 Rand 25 Actuating element 26 Swivel bracket 27 Actuation section 27' Actuating section in open position 28 Opening section 28' Opening section in open position 30 Operating area / Opening 30' opening in open position 31 Swivel axis 33 Sleeve 35 elastic tongue 36 anterior ends of the elastic tongue 37 recess 50 retaining strip 51 Retaining strip 52 Retaining strip 53 Retaining strip 54 Side wall of the frame 5 55 rear room 56 Base plate 70 handle 70' handle in open position 71 pen FS front BS back

Claims

[1] Cover plate (1) for closing an opening (6) which is designed so that it can be opened from its front (FS) for removal in order to gain access to its rear (BS) via the opening (6), comprising a frame (5) that defines the opening (6), and a cover (3) which closes the opening in a closed state, wherein the frame (5) is designed in such a way that it holds the cover (3) in the frame (5) when closed, the cover (3) is designed so that it can be opened to assume an open state and, in this open state, can be removed from the frame (5), and an actuating element (25) is provided which is designed to move the cover (3) from the closed state to the open state in order to remove the cover (3); characterized by, that the actuating element (25) is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis (31) which extends parallel to a plane of the cover plate (1), wherein a pivoting movement of the actuating element (25) about the pivot axis (31) drives an adjustment of the cover (3) in a direction perpendicular to the frame (5) into the open state in order to remove the cover (3) from the frame (5). [2] Cover plate according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element (25) has an actuating section (27) on a first side of the pivot axis (31) and an opening section (28) on a second side of the pivot axis (31) opposite the first side, and The pivoting movement of the actuating element (25) about the pivot axis (31) causes the opening section (28) to rest against a rear side of the cover (3) in order to drive the adjustment of the cover (3) in a direction perpendicular to the frame (5) into the open position in order to remove the cover (3) from the frame (5). [3] Cover plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (5) is rectangular and two actuating elements (25) are provided on two opposite sides of the frame (5), wherein the pivot axes (31) of the actuating elements (25) are aligned with each other. [4] Cover plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each actuating element (25) is pivotably mounted on a pivot bracket (26), wherein the pivot axis (31) is spaced apart from a side wall of the cover (3) or the frame (5), wherein free front ends of the actuating section (27) and the opening section (28) extend beyond the pivot bracket (26). [5] Cover plate according to claim 4, wherein the cover (3) is held on the frame (5) by at least one fixed retaining element (10) which is attached to the frame (5) or to the cover (3) and which is designed to hold the cover (3) in the closed position in the frame (5) with a holding force acting perpendicular to the bottom (50) of the frame (5). [6] Cover plate according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the at least one fixed retaining element (10) is designed to hold the cover (3) by means of a positive locking with an associated counter element (14) which is attached to a rear side of the cover (3) or to an underside of the frame (5), wherein the pivoting movement of the actuating element (25) about the pivot axis (31) releases the positive locking between the at least one fixed retaining element (10) and the associated counter element (14). [7] Cover plate according to claim 6, wherein the at least one fixed retaining element (10) is designed to release the positive locking between the at least one fixed retaining element (10) and the associated counter element (14) when the actuating element (25) is pivoted about the pivot axis (31) and a rear side of the opening section (28) comes into contact with the bottom (50) of the frame (5). [8] Cover plate according to claim 7, wherein the at least one fixed retaining element (10) is designed as a ball retaining element and a free front end of the associated counter element (14) is spherical. [9] Cover plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (3) has a push-in element (35) at an edge of the cover (3) at a position corresponding to a position of the actuating section (27) of the respective associated actuating element (25), wherein the push-in element (35) is designed to be elastically pressed downwards in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the cover (3) in order to drive a pivoting movement of the actuating section (27) towards a base (50) of the frame (5). [10] Cover plate according to claim 9, wherein the pre-pressure element (35) is formed integrally with the cover (3) at a position corresponding to the position of the actuating section (27) of the respective associated actuating element (25). [11] Cover plate according to claim 9, wherein the push-in element (35) is attached to a rear side of the cover (3) at a position corresponding to the position of the actuating section (27) of the respective associated actuating element (25). [12] Cover plate according to claim 10, wherein the pre-pressure element (35) is formed as an elastic tongue (36) which is formed by a U-shaped recess (37) in the cover (3) at a position corresponding to the position of the actuating section (27) of the respective associated actuating element (25). [13] Cover plate according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a surface of the cover (3) is closed at least along a circumference of the cover (3) and an opening (30) is provided at an edge of the cover (3) at a position corresponding to a position of the actuating section (27) of the respective associated actuating element (25), so that the actuating section (27) can be actuated by a pin (71) of a hand tool (7) which extends through the opening (30) and drives a pivoting movement of the actuating section (27) towards a base (50) of the frame (5). [14] Cover plate according to claim 13, wherein a sleeve (33) surrounding the opening (30) is provided on a rear side of the cover (3) to guide a movement of the pin (71) of the hand tool (7) to drive the pivoting movement of the actuating section (27) towards a bottom (50) of the frame (5). [15] Cover plate according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the frame (5) and the cover (3) are rectangular and two openings (30) are formed on two opposite sides of the cover (3), wherein the two openings (30) are aligned along a common side (51, 53) of the frame (5) or the cover (3) and parallel to it. [16] Cover plate according to claim 15, wherein the frame (5) has a vertical side wall (54) extending perpendicular to a surface of the cover (3), and the opening (6) of the frame is defined by four retaining strips (50-53) forming a base of the frame (5) and extending parallel to the surface of the cover (3). [17] Cover plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating element (25) is pivotably mounted on a pivot bracket (26) which is fixedly attached to the frame (5). [18] Machine or enclosure, especially for use in a cleanroom, characterized by at least one cover plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which closes an opening (6) in the machine or in the housing. [19] Cleanroom, especially for processing pharmaceutical packaging, with side walls that seal off a working area of ​​the cleanroom from an environment, characterized by that the side walls comprise at least one cover plate (1) according to one of claims 1 to 17, which closes off a space (55) arranged behind it.

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