Closable Waste Transfer Opening for Contamination-Free Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing discharge systems for waste material in controlled environments, such as isolators and gloveboxes, allow for potential contamination and recontamination due to open transfer openings, complicating the unpacking process and disrupting sensitive manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
A discharge device with a closable transfer opening and a secondary controlled environment for the extraction area, allowing for controlled removal of waste material while maintaining environmental conditions, and incorporating decontamination capabilities to prevent recontamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a permanently open transfer opening is used to remove waste material, then waste material can be easily removed from the controlled environment, but contamination and recontamination risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer opening is designed to be closable rather than permanently open, allowing dynamic control of the opening state. The opening can be closed during operations to prevent contamination and opened only when waste material removal is needed, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and contamination risk
Solution Approach 2:
A secondary controlled environment is introduced as an intermediary zone between the main controlled environment and the waste removal area. This intermediate chamber allows waste material to be transferred and processed without directly exposing the main controlled environment to contamination risks
2Object-affected harmful factors
If decontamination is performed in the controlled environment, then contamination is reduced, but the manufacturing process is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The controlled environment is segmented into a main working chamber and a secondary controlled environment for decontamination. This segmentation allows decontamination operations to be performed in the secondary environment without disrupting the manufacturing process in the main chamber, as the two zones can operate independently
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary controlled environment acts as an intermediary zone where decontamination can be performed without affecting the main controlled environment. This intermediate chamber serves as a buffer that isolates decontamination activities from the continuous manufacturing process
3Productivity
If the transfer opening is made larger to facilitate waste material transport, then waste material removal efficiency increases, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary controlled environment serves as an intermediary that allows for efficient waste material transport while maintaining contamination barriers. The transfer opening can be optimized for transport efficiency in this intermediate zone without directly compromising the main controlled environment, as the secondary environment acts as a protective buffer
Data Source
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AI summary
In a discharge device (12) with which separable waste material can be removed from a controlled environment (13), it is thus proposed according to the invention that a transfer opening (20), which separates a discharge area (18) from a removal area (21) for the path of the waste material (19) to the outside, can be closed by a closing element (25) during operation, in particular to collect the waste material (19) in a stacking arrangement.