Safety work device and clean room

Abstract

The present invention improves the ease of maintenance work for a safety work device. This safety work device has: a main section that is provided with a work space for performing work; and an exhaust chamber section that forms an exhaust flow passage for air in the work space. The exhaust chamber section is provided to the back surface of the main section. The safety work device is installed so as to face a wall surface body. The main section is installed on the front side of the wall surface body, and the exhaust chamber section is installed on the rear side of the wall surface body so as to protrude therefrom.

Description

Safe work equipment and clean rooms

[0001] The present invention relates to various types of safety work devices such as safety cabinets and draft chambers, and to clean rooms in which the safety work devices are installed.

[0002] A safety work device is known that has a shutter on the front and exhausts the air inside it, allowing work to be done safely. One example is a safety cabinet that has a work space and a shutter and exhausts the air inside the work space, as disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0003] Furthermore, in safety cabinets, the HEPA filter filters out contaminants and dust, and as a result, it gradually becomes clogged and needs to be replaced. Patent Document 2 discloses a technology that allows for greater consideration of safety, as an example of a structure for replacing a HEPA filter.

[0004] JP 2006-122816 A JP 2013-160474 A

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which the exhaust duct is located on the work space side, while Patent Document 2 discloses in Figure 6 that the HEPA filter is enclosed in a vinyl bag, sealed, and removed outside the device.

[0006] However, all of these documents are based on the assumption that the device will be placed in a work space or a clean room. Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a safe work device that allows maintenance work on the safe work device to be performed from a room separate from the clean room where cleanliness is controlled and the work room or laboratory where actual work on samples is performed. This allows service engineers to perform maintenance, for example, during periodic inspections, without having to enter the work room or laboratory as much as possible, thereby improving the convenience of maintenance work.

[0007] An example of the safety work device of the present invention for solving the above problems is as follows.

[0008] A safety work device having a main body portion in which a work space where work is performed is provided, and an exhaust chamber portion which forms an exhaust flow path for air in the work space, wherein the exhaust chamber portion is provided on the back surface of the main body portion, and the safety work device is installed facing a wall body, the main body portion being installed on the front side of the wall body, and the exhaust chamber portion being installed protruding from the rear side of the wall body.

[0009] According to the safe work device of the present invention, for example, during periodic inspections, it is possible for a service engineer to perform maintenance without entering a workroom or laboratory as much as possible, thereby improving the convenience of maintenance work.

[0010] Further means and effects of the present invention will become apparent throughout the entire specification below.

[0011] FIG. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a safety work device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B is a schematic front perspective view of a safety work device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3C is a schematic top perspective view of a safety work device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3D is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 3A. FIG. 3E is a schematic rear perspective view of a safety work device according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along line B-B of FIG. 3A. FIG. 3F is a schematic rear perspective view of a safety work device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3G is a schematic top view showing an installation state of a safety work device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3H is a view illustrating a replacement state of a HEPA filter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3I is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 in another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3I is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as needed.

[0013] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a safety work device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the front shutter when it is open.

[0014] A workbench 2 is configured on top of a lower housing 1. A back panel 3a is provided on the back side, and an upper housing 5 is provided on the top side. A front shutter 4 is provided on the front side, and the area surrounded by 2, 3a, 5, and 4 forms a work space 23. Reference numeral 6 denotes the front housing.

[0015] 3b is a rear housing, and the space surrounded by 3a and 3b is an exhaust chamber 18, inside which a HEPA filter 21 and control parts 13 of a safety work device 52 are housed.

[0016] Furthermore, by making the exhaust chamber 18 a separate structure that can be removed from the safety work device 52, the safety work device 52 can be separated and disposed of in an incineration facility when it is discarded, making disposal easier.

[0017] Reference numeral 50 denotes an external exhaust duct. This duct is connected to the internal exhaust duct 22 and guides the exhaust air from the safety work device to the outside. Reference numeral 51 denotes an exhaust fan. In FIG. 1, it is configured separately from the safety work device, but it can also be installed on the laboratory or factory building side, for example. Of course, this does not exclude the installation on the safety work device side.

[0018] 1 shows the front shutter 4 in an open state, i.e., the front shutter 4 has moved upward to form an opening, forming a front opening 24 between the front shutter 4 and the workbench 2. At this time, air is exhausted by the exhaust fan 51, creating a negative pressure on the safety device side of the exhaust fan. As a result, an air flow is generated to eliminate the pressure difference. Air from outside passes through the front opening 24 and, for example, through air flow 30 into the work space 23. It then passes, for example, through a prefilter 20 and is introduced into the internal exhaust duct 22. The introduced air then passes, for example, through a HEPA filter 21 and, as air flow 31, is finally exhausted to the outdoors by the exhaust fan 51.

[0019] Reference numeral 10 denotes a work room. This includes clean rooms, laboratories, etc. The front shutter of the safety work device is located here, and this is the side where sample adjustments, etc. are performed using the safety work device. From the viewpoint of preventing leakage of contaminants to the outside of the room, it is desirable that the work room 10 be under negative pressure.

[0020] 11 is a maintenance room, located behind the safety work equipment.

[0021] In the conventional patent documents 1 and 2, the safety work device 52 is disposed in the work chamber 10 .

[0022] In contrast, the greatest feature of the safety work device 52 of the present application is that the main body 60 can be arranged on the work chamber 10 side and the exhaust chamber 61 on the maintenance chamber 11 side relative to the wall body 15.

[0023] This makes it possible to spatially separate the actual work and the maintenance work by placing the main body 10, where the actual work such as sample preparation is performed, in the work chamber 10, and at the same time, by placing the components requiring maintenance etc. in the exhaust chamber 61 and in the maintenance chamber 11. This makes it possible to perform maintenance, for example during periodic inspections, without the service engineer having to enter the work chamber or laboratory as much as possible, thereby improving the convenience of the maintenance work.

[0024] Furthermore, contamination of the work chamber 10 can be avoided during maintenance work or the like.

[0025] 2 is a schematic front perspective view of the safety work device. A pre-filter 20 is provided on the rear panel 3a at the rear of the work space 23, through which air flowing in from the work chamber 10 through the front opening 24 passes and is directed to the exhaust chamber 18 at the rear of the safety work device 52. Reference numeral 7 denotes a maintenance switch that is pressed during maintenance. When the maintenance switch 7 is pressed, a maintenance indicator light (front) 8 and a maintenance indicator light (rear) 9 at the rear of the safety work device light up in red or other colors to warn that maintenance is in progress. The switch also outputs a stop signal to the exhaust fan 51, stopping the exhaust fan 51 and enabling maintenance.

[0026] During maintenance, to prevent samples floating in the work space 23 from leaking out through the front opening 24, a limit switch that detects that the front shutter 4 is closed is turned on, and the maintenance indicator light (front) 8 and the maintenance indicator light (back) 9 light up, and then the exhaust fan 51 stops.

[0027] 3A is a schematic top perspective view of a safety work device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The width of the exhaust chamber 18 is smaller than that of the upper housing 5 located above the work space 23 in front of the safety work device 52, and the wall body opening 16 is provided in the wall body 15 and is slightly larger than the width of the exhaust chamber 18. There are no particular restrictions on the width of the slight width, but considering the ease of grounding and the sealing described below, a width of several millimeters to several tens of millimeters, and particularly about 10 mm, is desirable as an example.

[0028] When installing the safety work device 52 in the work chamber 10, the exhaust chamber 18 is inserted into the wall opening 16, and then the gaps on the left and right sides of the exhaust chamber 18 are adjusted to be approximately the same. Next, the position is determined by pushing the safety work device 52 into the wall 15, and the height is determined by adjusting the adjuster 19 at the bottom of the safety work device. There is no longer any need to measure the dimensions of the wall 15 and the safety work device 52 while determining their position at any position in the work chamber 10, as was the case in the past, and work efficiency during installation is greatly improved.

[0029] 3B is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 3A. The back of the safety work device 52 is fitted with a packing 29 that fits the surface that contacts the wall body 15. The gap between the exhaust chamber 18 and the wall body 15 is filled with backup material 27, and then caulking material 28 is applied to fill the gap. This prevents damage to the laboratory wall surface 15 during delivery, prevents vibrations caused by the operation of the external exhaust fan 50 during use from being transmitted to the work bench 2 where experiments are performed, and prevents a gap between the work chamber 10 and the safety work device 52, thereby eliminating any gap between the laboratory and the outside of the laboratory and providing isolation.

[0030] The above-described installation method can be particularly easily performed by making the width of the exhaust chamber 61 narrower than the width of the main body 60. Therefore, with regard to the safety work device 52 of the present invention, by making the width of the main body 60 greater than the width of the exhaust chamber 61, a unique effect of facilitating installation can be achieved.

[0031] However, as long as the safety work device 52 satisfies its most important feature of arranging the main body 60 on the working chamber 10 side and the exhaust chamber 61 on the maintenance chamber 11 side relative to the wall body 15, cases in which the above size relationship is not satisfied are naturally included within the scope of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 3C is a schematic rear perspective view of a safety work device according to one embodiment of the present invention, taken along line B-B in FIG. 3A. After determining the position and height of the safety work device 52, a leg closure plate 17 is fixed to the wall opening 16 at the bottom of the exhaust chamber 18, and the entire perimeter is caulked to seal any gaps. Gases such as nitrogen, vacuum, compressed air, and hydrogen may be required for experiments. In such cases, the piping can be removed from the work space 23 of the safety work device 52, pulled into the lower housing 1, and piped to a pre-installed opening at the bottom of the exhaust chamber, allowing it to be removed outside the laboratory. After piping, the opening is caulked to seal any gaps. The pipes removed outside the laboratory are connected to building piping so that the required gases can be supplied. This eliminates the need to drill holes for piping in the wall opening 16.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a schematic rear perspective view of a safety work device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] By consolidating the control components at the top of the exhaust chamber 18 and providing the HEPA filter maintenance cover 12 on the back, it is possible to perform periodic inspections such as component maintenance, HEPA filter 21 replacement, and HEPA filter 21 permeability testing without entering the laboratory.

[0035] In this way, by simply placing the exhaust chamber section 61 of the safety work device 52 in the pre-installed wall opening 16 and adjusting the height by adjusting the adjuster on the underside of the lower housing 1, the safety work device 52 can be installed smoothly and accurately in the intended location. Also, by placing the HEPA filter maintenance cover 12 and control parts 13 in the exhaust chamber 18, service engineers can perform periodic inspections and component maintenance without entering the work room 10, thereby protecting workers and preventing laboratory contamination.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view showing an installation state of a safety work device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a plurality of the above-described safety work devices 52 arranged in a work chamber 10.

[0038] The figure shows a concept in which the main body 60 is installed on the side of the work chamber 10, and the exhaust chamber 61 is placed on the side of the maintenance chamber 11, separated by a wall body 15. Although the figure shows an example in which multiple units are installed, it goes without saying that only one unit may be installed.

[0039] An exhaust duct is connected from the internal exhaust duct 22 at the top of the exhaust chamber 18 arranged in the maintenance room 11 to an exhaust fan 51 on the building side via an external exhaust duct 50, and the air is exhausted outdoors. Utility piping is connected to the building piping in the maintenance room 11, and gases and the like required for the experiment are supplied to the work room 10 of the safety work device 52.

[0040] By arranging the exhaust ducts and piping in the maintenance room 11, the inside of the work room becomes neat and tidy, and it becomes possible to remove ducts and piping that cause turbulence in the air flow and accumulation of dust in the work room 10 from the side of the work room 10, thereby simplifying management.

[0041] Furthermore, a maintenance space of at least 100 mm is usually required behind the safety work device. When replacing parts, etc., a working space of at least 600 mm is required behind the safety work device 52. However, by using the concept of the present invention and arranging the device as shown in FIG. 5, the safety work device 52 can be installed close to the wall body 15 via a packing 29. This allows for effective use of the space in the work chamber 10. From another perspective, the area of ​​the work chamber 10 can be reduced, so the airflow rates of the intake fan that supplies clean air to the work chamber and the exhaust fan that exhausts air from the work chamber for ventilation can be reduced. This reduces power consumption and therefore running costs.

[0042] This embodiment is basically the same as Example 1. In this embodiment, an example in which a HEPA filter replacement part is provided, particularly in which the HEPA filter replacement part is provided on the rear side, and the additional effects thereof will be described.

[0043] 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating the replacement of the HEPA filter in one embodiment of the present invention. The HEPA filter maintenance cover 12 is disposed in the exhaust chamber 61, i.e., on the back of the safety work device 52.

[0044] This is an example of a view showing the HEPA filter maintenance cover 12 removed and the vinyl bag 37 removed from the replacement opening. As shown in Figure 6A, the vinyl bag 37 is removed from its folded state. Then, as shown in Figure 6B, the HEPA filter 21 is stored in the vinyl bag 37. After that, the portion of the vinyl bag 37 that stores the HEPA filter is cut and heat-sealed to seal the HEPA filter 21 in the vinyl bag 37.

[0045] According to the above method, the HEPA filter 21 can be replaced without directly touching the contaminants adsorbed on the HEPA filter 21.

[0046] Furthermore, since the structure can prevent contaminants adsorbed on the HEPA filter 21 from contaminating the work chamber 10, it is possible to further prevent contamination of the work chamber or laboratory compared to the HEPA filter replacement method disclosed in Patent Document 2.

[0047] This embodiment is basically the same as the first or second embodiment.

[0048] In this embodiment, the safety work device 52 is characterized by having a shielding plate 75 on the wall body 15 side.

[0049] Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1. The difference from Fig. 1 is that while Fig. 1 discloses a leg closing plate 17, in this embodiment, a shielding plate 75 with a similar concept is deployed so as to extend over multiple sides of the main body of the safety work device 52. Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2. It is easier to see in Fig. 8 that the shielding plate 75 extends over multiple sides of the main body of the safety work device 52. Fig. 8 shows an example in which the shielding plate 75 is configured over the entire periphery. By providing such a shielding plate, the sealing between the wall body 15 and the main body of the safety work device 52 can be further strengthened.

[0050] The above examples illustrate the ideas and concepts of the present invention. Of course, the scope of the present invention also includes examples that are realized by combining the examples. Furthermore, as long as the disclosed ideas and concepts are used, any modifications or similar examples are also included within the scope of the present invention.

[0051] Furthermore, one example of the present invention described using the above embodiments can also be expressed as follows.

[0052] <No. 1> A safety work device having a main body in which a work space is provided for work, and an exhaust chamber that forms an exhaust flow path for air in the work space, wherein the exhaust chamber is provided on the back of the main body, and the safety work device is installed facing a wall body, and the main body is installed on the front side of the wall body, and the exhaust chamber is installed protruding from the rear side of the wall body.

[0053] <Item 2> The safety work device according to item <Item 1>, wherein a maintenance portion of the safety work device is disposed in the exhaust chamber portion.

[0054] <No. 3> In <No. 2>, the safety work device is such that the exhaust chamber portion is provided with a utility piping outlet.

[0055] <Item 4> The safety work device according to item <Item 2>, wherein the exhaust chamber section has a built-in HEPA filter, and an opening for replacing the HEPA filter is provided on the rear side of the exhaust chamber section.

[0056] <Item 5> The safety work device according to item <Item 4>, wherein the exhaust chamber portion is provided on the rear surface of the main body portion, and the exhaust chamber portion is narrower than the main body portion.

[0057] <No. 6> The safety work device according to <No. 2>, wherein the exhaust chamber is provided on the rear surface of the main body, and the exhaust chamber is narrower than the main body.

[0058] <No. 7> The safety work device according to <No. 6>, wherein the wall body and the main body are arranged via a sealing member.

[0059] <No. 8> The safety work device according to <No. 7>, wherein the wall body and the exhaust chamber portion are arranged via a sealing member.

[0060] <Item 9> The safety work device according to item <Item 8>, wherein the sealing member between the wall body and the exhaust chamber portion is different from the sealing member between the wall body and the main body portion.

[0061] <No. 10> The safety work device according to <No. 9>, wherein the main body has a shielding plate on a rear surface of the main body that is larger than the main body.

[0062] <No. 11> A safety work device having a main body section in which a work space where work is performed is provided, and an exhaust chamber section which forms an exhaust flow path for air in the work space, wherein a maintenance part of the safety work device is disposed on the rear side of the exhaust chamber section, and a front shutter of the safety work device and the maintenance part are disposed opposite each other on the safety work device.

[0063] <Item 12> The safety work device according to item <Item 11>, wherein the exhaust chamber portion is narrower in width than the main body portion.

[0064] <Item 13> The safety work device according to item <Item 12>, wherein the exhaust chamber portion has a built-in HEPA filter, and an opening for replacing the HEPA filter is provided on the rear side of the exhaust chamber portion.

[0065] <No. 14> A clean room having an opening in a part of a wall body, which opening is used as an opening in the wall body, and a safety work device according to any one of <No. 1> to <No. 13> is placed in the opening, thereby placing the main body of the safety work device in the clean room and the exhaust chamber part of the safety work device in an auxiliary room or a maintenance area of ​​the clean room.

[0066] 1: Lower housing 2: Work table 3a: Rear panel 3b: Rear housing 4: Front shutter 5: Upper housing 6: Front housing 7: Maintenance switch 8: Maintenance indicator light (front) 9: Maintenance indicator light (rear) 10: Work chamber 11: Maintenance chamber 12: HEPA filter maintenance cover 13: Control parts 14: Utility piping 15: Wall body 16: Wall body opening 17: Leg closing plate 18: Exhaust chamber 19: Adjuster 20: Pre-filter 21: HEPA filter 22: Internal exhaust duct 23: Work space 24: Front opening 25: Upper pre-filter 26: Floor fixing bracket 27: Backup material 28: Caulking material 29: Gasket 30, 31: Air flow 37: Vinyl bag 40: Sample 50: External exhaust duct 51: Exhaust fan 52: Safety work equipment 60: Main body 61: Exhaust chamber 75: Shielding plate

Claims

1. A safety work device having a main body in which a work space is provided for work, and an exhaust chamber that forms an exhaust flow path for air in the work space, wherein the exhaust chamber is provided on the back of the main body, and the safety work device is installed facing a wall body, with the main body installed on the front side of the wall body and the exhaust chamber installed protruding from the rear side of the wall body.

2. A safety work device according to claim 1, wherein a maintenance portion of the safety work device is disposed in the exhaust chamber portion.

3. A safety work device according to claim 2, wherein the exhaust chamber section is provided with a utility piping outlet.

4. A safety work device according to claim 2, wherein the exhaust chamber section has a built-in HEPA filter, and an opening for replacing the HEPA filter is provided on the rear side of the exhaust chamber section.

5. A safety work device according to claim 4, wherein the exhaust chamber is provided on the rear surface of the main body, and the exhaust chamber is narrower than the main body.

6. A safety work device according to claim 2, wherein the exhaust chamber is provided on the rear surface of the main body, and the exhaust chamber is narrower than the main body.

7. A safety work device according to claim 6, wherein the wall body and the main body are arranged via a sealing member.

8. A safety work device according to claim 7, wherein the wall body and the exhaust chamber portion are arranged via a sealing member.

9. A safety work device according to claim 8, wherein the sealing member between the wall body and the exhaust chamber portion is different from the sealing member between the wall body and the main body portion.

10. A safety work device according to claim 9, wherein the main body has a shielding plate on the rear surface of the main body that is larger than the main body.

11. A safety work device having a main body section in which a work space where work is performed is provided, and an exhaust chamber section which forms an exhaust flow path for air in the work space, wherein a maintenance part of the safety work device is arranged on the rear side of the exhaust chamber section, and a front shutter of the safety work device and the maintenance part are arranged opposite each other on the safety work device.

12. A safety work device according to claim 11, wherein the exhaust chamber portion is narrower than the main body portion.

13. A safety work device according to claim 12, wherein the exhaust chamber section has a built-in HEPA filter, and an opening for replacing the HEPA filter is provided on the rear side of the exhaust chamber section.

14. A clean room having an opening in a part of its wall, which is used as an opening in the wall, and in which a safety work device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 is placed, thereby placing the main body of the safety work device in the clean room and the exhaust chamber of the safety work device in an auxiliary room or maintenance area of ​​the clean room.

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