Life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell, life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing method, and automated manufacturing cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10588994-B2
Application number	US-201615011666-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2016
Priority date	May 11, 2015
Publication date	Mar 17, 2020
Grant date	Mar 17, 2020

Abstract

Provided is an automated manufacturing cell including: a work booth provided with a work space; a robot arranged in the work booth; a container booth which is connected, in a manner allowing insulation, to each of the work booth and an external space, and is configured to store a work tool and a work subject; and a holder fixation tool which is arranged in the work space, and is configured to detachably fix a holder configured to hold the work tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell, comprising:
a work booth provided with a work space, the work booth configured to be kept in an aseptic state;
a robot arranged in the work booth, the robot controlled by a controller;
a container booth configured to store a work tool and a work subject for life-science and/or medicinal chemistry, the container booth connected to the work booth via a first door and connected to an external space via a second door, the first and second doors configured to close and seal the container booth from the work booth and from the external space, respectively; and
a first holder fixation tool arranged and fixed in the work space relative to where the robot is fixed to the work space, the first holder fixation tool configured to detachably fix a holder configured to hold the work tool,
wherein the container booth comprises a sterilizer, and
wherein the first holder fixation tool protrudes from a bottom surface of the work space,
the first holder fixation tool comprises a plurality of the first holder fixation tools, and
a first height from the bottom surface of the work space of one first holder fixation tool among the plurality of the first holder fixations tools is different from a second height from the bottom surface of the work space of another first holder fixation tool among the plurality of the first fixation tools.

2. The life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell according to claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises:
a setup controller configured to control the robot so that the robot moves the holder from the container booth to the work space; and
a work controller configured to control the robot so that, in the work space, the robot uses the work tool to work on the work subject.

3. The life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell according to claim 2 , wherein:
the work tool dependent on one of the work subject and a content of the work is arranged in the container booth before a start of the work; and
the setup controller is configured to control the robot to move the work tool dependent on one of the work subject and the content of the work from the container booth to the work space.

4. The life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell according to claim 3 , wherein the setup controller is configured to control the robot to connect to the work tool so that power is supplied to the work tool in the work space.

5. The life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell according to claim 4 , wherein:
the work tool is an electronic balance; and
the setup controller is configured to control the robot to calibrate the electronic balance in the work space.

6. The life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell according to claim 1 , further comprising a second holder fixation tool arranged and fixed in the work space relative to where the robot is fixed to the work space, the second holder fixation tool configured to detachably fix the holder.

7. The life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell according to claim 6 , wherein, before a start of the work, the holder is provided by being fixed only to the second holder fixation tool out of the first holder fixation tool and the second holder fixation tool.

8. The life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell according to claim 1 , wherein:
the robot comprises at least a pair of claws configured to open and close; and
the life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell further comprises a gripped portion which is mounted to each of a plurality of the holders, and to be gripped by the pair of claws.

9. The life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell according to claim 2 , wherein:
the robot comprises at least a pair of claws configured to open and close; and
the work controller is configured to control, when one of a plurality of work subjects is gripped, the robot to rotate a direction of the pair of claws so as to avoid another neighboring work subject.

10. The life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell according to claim 2 , wherein:
the robot comprises at least two arms each comprising at least a pair of claws configured to open and close; and
the work controller is configured to control the robot so that the robot uses the pair of claws of one of the at least two arms to grip and invert the work subject, and then pass the work subject gripped by the one of the at least two arms to another of the at least two arms.

11. The life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a temporary placement space provided inside the work booth and outside the work space and a movable range of the door;
wherein the first door is configured to be opened and closed by the robot.

12. The life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing cell according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first holder fixation tool comprises a pin; and
the holder has a hole to which the pin is to fit.

13. A life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing method, comprising:
storing, before a start of work, a work tool and a work subject for life-science and/or medicinal chemistry in a container booth, the container booth connected to a work booth via a first door and an external space via a second door, the first and second doors configured to close and seal the container booth from the work booth and from the external space, respectively, the work booth comprising a work space and a robot;
controlling, by a setup controller, the robot to move the work tool and the work subject from the container booth to the work space;
controlling, by the setup controller, the robot to fix a holder to a first holder fixation tool, the first holder fixation tool is arranged and fixed in the work space relative to where the robot is fixed to the work space, and is configured to detachably fix the holder configured to hold the work tool;
controlling, by a work controller, the robot to use the work tool to work on the work subject,
sterilizing the work tool with a sterilizer which is comprised in the container booth; and
wherein the first holder fixation tool protrudes from a bottom surface of the work space,
the first holder fixation tool comprises a plurality of the first holder fixation tools, and
a first height from the bottom surface of the work space of one first holder fixation tool among the plurality of the first holder fixations tools is different from a second height from the bottom surface of the work space of another first holder fixation tool among the plurality of the first fixation tools.

14. The life-science and/or medicinal chemistry automated manufacturing method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
controlling the robot to move the holder fixed to the first holder fixation tool from the work space to the container booth, and fix the holder to a second holder fixation tool.

15. A manufacturing cell, comprising:
a work booth provided with a work space, the work booth configured to be kept in an aseptic state;
a robot arranged in the work booth;
a container booth configured to store a work tool and a work subject, the container booth connected to the work booth via a first door and connected to an external space via a second door, the first and second doors configured to close and seal the container booth from the work booth and from the external spac

Assignees

• Yaskawa Electric Corp
• Tanabe Eng Corporation
• K T Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kawamura Yoshinori
• Yamaguchi Sakae
• Obunai Takashi
• OISHI Takuetsu

Classifications

• A61L2/07

  Steam · CPC title

• B25J21/00

  Chambers provided with manipulation devices (constructional features of the mounting of the manipulator in the wall B25J1/08 {; glove-boxes for nuclear applications G21F7/04}) · CPC title

• A61L2/26 Primary

  Accessories · CPC title

• B25J9/0087 Primary

  Dual arms (double SCARA arms B25J9/043) · CPC title

• A61L2/10

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title