DOOR DEVICE FOR CONNECTING A CONTAINER TO AN ISOLATION CHAMBER

Abstract

A door device for connecting a container having a container flange with a plurality of radial flanges distributed around its circumference to an isolation chamber includes a door reversibly movable from a closed position, in which it closes a passage opening of the door device, to an open position, in which it uncovers the passage opening, and an interface of a closure, in particular a first bayonet closure for fastening a lid attached to the container. The device further includes a frame having axial grooves for receiving the radial flanges of the container and a cover reversibly movable from an insertion position in which it releases the axial grooves for insertion and withdrawal of the radial flanges to a locking position in which it locks the axial grooves against withdrawal of the radial flanges to lock the container to the door device.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A door device for connecting a container to an isolation chamber, the container having a container flange with a plurality of radial flanges distributed around its periphery, the door device comprising: a door reversibly movable to and from a closed position, in which the door closes a passage opening of the door device, and an open position, in which the door uncovers the passage opening; the door including an interface of a closure for securing a lid fixed to the container; a frame with axial grooves for receiving the radial flanges of the container; and a cover reversibly movable from an insertion position, in which the cover releases the axial grooves for insertion and withdrawal of the radial flanges, to a locking position, in which the cover locks the axial grooves against withdrawal of the radial flanges to thereby lock the container to the door device.

16. The door device of claim 15, wherein the closure is a first bayonet catch.

17. The door device of claim 15, further comprising an actuating member designed to reversibly move a plurality of radial flanges of the lid from an insertion position, in which the radial flanges are disposed in axial grooves of the interface of the CLOSURE, to a locking position, in which the radial flanges engage behind undercuts of the interface to thereby lock the lid to the door.

18. The door device of claim 17, wherein the actuating member comprises at least one radial flange that engages between a pair of adjacent radial flanges of the lid to thereby adjust the radial flanges of the lid.

19. The door device of claim 17, further comprising: at least one of a drive or a gearing mechanism; the drive or gearing mechanism designed for reversibly adjusting at least one of the cover or the actuating member.

20. The door device of claim 19, wherein at least one of: the drive is at least one of a manual drive or a drive arranged on the frame; the drive or gearing mechanism is designed for reversibly adjusting the cover into a locking position, and subsequently adjusting the radial flanges of the lid into a locking position using the actuating member; or the drive or the gearing mechanism is designed for reversibly adjusting the radial flanges of the lid into an insertion position using the actuating member, and subsequently adjusting the cover into an insertion position.

21. The door device of claim 19, wherein at least one of: the door device further comprises a latch that is actuatable to reversibly lock the door in the closed position; or the door is at least one of: pivotable under positive control, pivotable by the drive, or pivotable by the gearing mechanism.

22. The door device of claim 21, wherein at least one of: the latch is actuatable by at least one of the drive or the gearing mechanism; or the door is pivotable into at least one of: the closed position from the open position before locking, or the open position from the closed position after unlocking.

23. The door device of claim 21, wherein the gearing mechanism comprises at least one of: a freewheel designed to adjust the cover in a first adjustment range of the drive and not adjust the cover in at least one of a second or third adjustment range of the drive; a freewheel designed to adjust the actuating member in one adjustment range of the drive and not adjust the actuating member in a different adjustment range of the drive; a freewheel designed to adjust the latch for reversibly locking the door in one adjustment range of the drive and not adjust the latch in a different adjustment range of the drive; or a coupling that is closed in the closed position of the door and open in the open position of the door.

24. The door device of claim 23, wherein at least one of: the freewheel is designed to block the cover in at least one of the second or third adjustment ranges of the drive; the freewheel is designed to adjust the actuating member in the second adjustment range of the drive; the freewheel is designed to block the actuating member in the different adjustment range of the drive; the different adjustment range of the drive for which the actuating member is not adjusted is at least one of the first or third adjustment ranges of the drive; the freewheel is designed to adjust the latch in the third adjustment range of the drive; the freewheel is designed to block the latch in the different adjustment range of the drive; or the different adjustment range of the drive for which the latch is not adjusted is at least one of the first or second adjustment ranges of the drive.

25. The door device of claim 15, wherein the cover comprises a ring with a plurality of grooves through which, in the insertion position of the cover, the radial flanges of the container can be inserted into the axial grooves of the frame.

26. A system, comprising: a container for connection to an isolation chamber, the container having a container flange with a plurality of radial flanges distributed around its periphery; a lid coupled with the container; and a door device according to claim 15; the container and the lid having a mating interface of the closure for attachment to the door of the door device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein: the closure of the door device is a first bayonet catch; and the mating interface of the container and lid attach to radial flanges of the first bayonet catch.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising a second bayonet catch for reversibly securing the lid to the container.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the second bayonet catch is unlockable by closing the first bayonet catch.

30. A method for connecting a container to an isolation chamber with a door device according to claim 15, the container having a container flange with a plurality of radial flanges distributed around its periphery, the method comprising: axially inserting the radial flanges of the container into the axial grooves of the frame; and locking the radial flanges of the container in the axial grooves by moving the cover into a locking position.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein: the door device further comprises: an actuating member designed to reversibly move a plurality of radial flanges of the cover from an insertion position, in which the radial flanges are disposed in axial grooves of the interface of the first bayonet catch, to a locking position, in which the radial flanges engage behind undercuts of the interface to thereby lock the cover to the door, and at least one of a drive or a gearing mechanism, the drive or gearing mechanism designed for reversibly adjusting at least one of the cover or the actuating member; and moving the cover into the locking position comprises at least one of: moving the cover by actuation of the drive, or moving the cover with the gearing mechanism.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising moving the actuating member for adjusting the radial flanges of the lid into a locking position.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of: the actuating member is moved by actuating the drive; or the actuating member is moved with the gearing mechanism.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising unlocking the door.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein at least one of: the door is unlocked by actuating the drive; or the door is unlocked with the gearing mechanism.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising swinging the door to an open position.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein at least one of: the door is swung to the open position by actuating the drive; or the door is swung to the open position with the gearing mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0063] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a system comprising a door device when connecting a container according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0064] FIG. 2 schematically depicts the system with radial flanges of the container inserted axially;

[0065] FIG. 3 schematically depicts the system with the cover of the door device adjusted;

[0066] FIG. 4 schematically depicts the system with the actuator adjusted; an

[0067] FIG. 5 schematically depicts the system with the door open;

[0068] FIG. 6 is a top view of the door device with the door open as seen from the isolation chamber;

[0069] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the door device when the door is closed, as seen from the container's storage space; and

[0070] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of components of the door device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0071] FIGS. 1 to 5 show, in a functional illustration, a system comprising a door device during a method of connecting a container 20 to an isolation chamber 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, each in a top half-section along an axial direction (vertical in the top half-section) and in a bottom plan view.

[0072] In a first step (see FIG. 1), radial flanges 21 of a container flange 22 of the container 20 are inserted into axial grooves 11 of a frame 10 of the door device.

[0073] In this case, a door 12 of the door device is locked by a latch 5 in a closed position in which it closes a passage opening 13 of the door device or of the frame (cf. FIG. 5).

[0074] A lid 30 is reversibly secured to the container 20 by a second bayonet catch 31, and closes an inlet and outlet opening 23 (cf. FIG. 5) of the container. It has a mating interface of a first bayonet catch in the form of a plurality of radial flanges 32.

[0075] These radial flanges 32 are axially inserted into axial grooves 14 of a door-side interface of the first bayonet catch when the radial flanges 21 of the container 20 are axially inserted into the frame-side axial grooves 11.

[0076] FIG. 2 shows the position after the insertion of the radial flanges 21, 32 into the axial grooves 11, 14.

[0077] Starting from this insertion position, by rotating an actuator 40 which actuates or adjusts a gearing mechanism 41, a cover 15 is first moved from the insertion position, in which it clears the axial grooves 11 for the insertion and the withdrawal of the radial flanges 21, by grooves 15a of the annular cover 15 overlapping or releasing these axial grooves 11 of the frame 10, to a locking position shown in FIG. 3, in which it blocks the axial grooves 11 against the withdrawal of the radial flanges 21 in order to attach the container 20 to the door into a locking position shown in FIG. 3, in which it locks the axial grooves 11 against the radial flanges 21 being withdrawn in order to lock the container 20 to the door device (cf. FIG. 2.fwdarw.FIG. 3). The drive 40 may be rotated from a storage area of the container 20 or a side of the container (top of FIG. 2), in one embodiment manually, in another embodiment by a drive (not shown) but which may be coupled elsewhere to the gearing mechanism 41.

[0078] Subsequent to this first range of the adjustment of the drive 40, a first freewheel 42 (previously blocking) blocks the cover in the event of further rotation of the drive 40 in the same direction, instead of further adjusting it in the process, or this first freewheel 42 opens.

[0079] A door side actuator 6 has four radial flanges 6a, each of which engages between a different pair of adjacent radial flanges 32 of the cover.

[0080] During this further rotation of the drive 40, a (previously open) second freewheel 43 locks, so that the drive 40 or the gearing mechanism 41 now rotate this previously locked actuator 6 (cf. FIG. 3.fwdarw.FIG. 4).

[0081] As a result, the actuator 6 or its radial flanges 6a move these radial flanges 32 of the cover from an insertion position (FIGS. 1 to 3), in which they are arranged in the axial grooves 14 of the interface of the first bayonet catch, to a locking position (FIGS. 4, 5), in which these radial flanges 32 engage behind undercuts 16 of the door-side interface to lock the cover 30 to the door 12.

[0082] This turning of the cover 30 with its radial flanges 32 also simultaneously unlocks the second bayonet catch 31.

[0083] Subsequent to this second range of the adjustment of the actuator 40, the second freewheel 43 blocks the actuator in case of further rotation of the actuator 40 in the same direction, instead of adjusting it further, or the second freewheel 43 opens.

[0084] Now a (previously open) third freewheel 44 locks, so that now the drive 40 or the gearing mechanism 41 unlock the latch 5 and the door 12 with the cover 30 attached to it can be opened, whereby a clutch 45 of the gearing mechanism opens (cf. FIG. 4.fwdarw.FIG. 5).

[0085] This swinging open of the door 12 may, in one embodiment, be caused or occur by a further rotation of the drive 40 in the same direction and/or by means of the gearing mechanism 41.

[0086] By reversing the above-mentioned sequence by turning the drive 40 in opposite directions, after closing (if necessary by means of the drive 40 and/or the gearing mechanism 41) the door is locked by the latch 5 (cf. FIG. 5.fwdarw.FIG. 4), then the lid is unlocked from the door by unlocking the first bayonet catch, i.e. by turning out the radial flanges 32 under the undercuts 16 and simultaneously locked to the container by locking the second bayonet catch 31 (cf. FIG. 4.fwdarw.FIG. 3), and then the axial grooves 11 are released by turning the cover 15 (cf. FIG. 3.fwdarw.FIG. 2), so that the container 20 with the lid 30 attached to it can be removed (cf. FIG. 2.fwdarw.FIG. 1).

[0087] FIG. 6 illustrates, in particular, a door-side pin 51 and a frame-side rotatable pivot 52 of the latch, wherein the pin 51 can be restrained or released by rotating the pivot 52.

[0088] In particular, FIGS. 7, 8 illustrate a drive 40 that can be actuated from a storage area of the container or a container side (top of the FIG. 1).

[0089] Although the embodiments have been explained in the foregoing description, it should be noted that a variety of variations are possible.

[0090] For example, the cover 15 can be rotated even further in the second adjustment range, i.e. when the actuator 6 is adjusted to lock the first bayonet catch, while continuing to block the axial grooves 11 against the radial flanges 21 being removed, and can only be blocked, possibly together with the second freewheel 43 or even before or after the latter, by the first freewheel 42 before the third freewheel 44 adjusts the latch 5 or the drive 40 is adjusted for this purpose in the third adjustment range.

[0091] Moreover, the FIGS. 1 to 5 should be understood as functional illustrations. For example, as can be seen in the FIG. 6, the latch 5 can also be implemented in that a door fixed pin 51 engages in a circumferential groove of a rotary body 52 mounted on the frame side in order to latch the door, wherein this rotary body 52 can be rotated by means of a drive or a gearing mechanism in such a way that the pin moves out of the circumferential groove into an axial groove, from which it can extend while swinging the door open.

[0092] Furthermore, it should be noted that the embodiments are merely examples which are not intended to limit the scope of protection, the uses and the structure in any way. Rather, the foregoing description provides the skilled person with a guide for implementing at least one embodiment, whereby various modifications may be made, in particular with respect to the function and arrangement of the components described, without departing from the scope of protection as it results from the claims and its equivalents.

[0093] While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments, and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such de-tail. The various features shown and described herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit and scope of the general inventive concept.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0094] 5 latch [0095] 6 actuator [0096] 6a radial flange of the actuator [0097] 10 frame [0098] 11 axial groove of the frame [0099] 12 door [0100] 13 passage opening [0101] 14 axial groove of the door [0102] 15 cover [0103] 15a cover groove [0104] 16 undercut [0105] 20 container [0106] 21 radial flange of the container [0107] 22 container flange [0108] 23 inlet and outlet opening [0109] 30 lid [0110] 31 second bayonet catch [0111] 32 radial flange of the cover [0112] 40 drive [0113] 41 gearing mechanism [0114] 42-44 freewheel [0115] 45 coupling [0116] 51 pin [0117] 52 rotary member [0118] 100 isolation chamber