Powder suction and removal apparatus and powder suction and removal method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10780464-B2
Application number	US-201815910413-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2018
Priority date	Mar 6, 2017
Publication date	Sep 22, 2020
Grant date	Sep 22, 2020

Abstract

A suction and removal apparatus which removes highly active pharmacological substances attached to the garments that can re-scatter when changing the clothes and prevents the leakage of such powder to the external environment. The suction and removal apparatus is for sucking and removing in a closed room powder attached to the garments of a person, and includes a suction device, a suction head containing a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and having a suction port, and a flexible tube connected between the suction device and the suction head. The suction port of the suction head has a cap that closes the suction port, the connection between the suction head and the flexible tube is attachable and detachable, and the suction device is installed outside or inside the room and the suction head and part of the flexible tube are installed inside the room.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A suction and removal apparatus for sucking and removing powder attached to garments of a person in a closed room, the suction and removal apparatus comprising:
a suction device,
a suction head including a housing, a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter contained in the housing, and a suction port, and
a flexible tube connected between the suction device and the suction head, wherein
the suction port of the suction head has a cap that closes the suction port;
the housing includes a cylindrical peripheral wall, a first end wall that closes a first end of the cylindrical peripheral wall and is provided with a suction port, and a second end wall that closes a second end of the cylindrical peripheral wall and is connected to the flexible tube;
the HEPA filter is in close contact with an inner surface of the cylindrical peripheral wall of the housing for shutting down movement of the powder while maintaining air flow between the first end wall and the second end wall;
the housing and the HEPA filter can be separated from the connection with the flexible tube and disposed of;
the connection between the suction head and the flexible tube is attachable and detachable; and
the suction device is installed outside or inside the room and the suction head and part of the flexible tube are installed inside the room.

2. The suction and removal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing is made of a material selected from chlorine-free resins, paper, and combinations of these.

3. The suction and removal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cap is attachable and detachable or fixable with respect to the suction port of the suction head.

4. The suction and removal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the powder is selected from highly active pharmacological substances, including pharmaceutical raw materials and agrochemical raw materials.

5. A method that uses the suction and removal apparatus of claim 1 for sucking and removing powder attached to garments of a person in a closed room, the method comprising:
a first step of manipulating to startup the suction device by the person;
a second step of drawing the suction port of the suction head closer to the person and sucking and removing powder attached to the garments;
a third step of manipulating the suction device to lower a suction force upon completion of the sucking and removing of the powder; and
a fourth step of shutting down the suction device after the suction force of the suction device is lowered and the suction port of the suction head is closed by covering with the cap.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein in the third step the suction force of the suction device is reduced to a level that is 50% or less of a suction force used for the sucking and removing the powder in the second step.

7. A suction and removal system for sucking and removing powder attached to garments of a person, the suction and removal system comprising:
an exit passageway, the exit passageway communicating between a workroom where the powder is present and an external environment, the exit passageway being divided into at least a first room, a second room and a third room, wherein
each of the workroom, the first room, the second room, and the third room is closable;
the workroom and the first room, the first room and the second room, the second room and the third room, and the third room and the external environment are each respectively separable and communicable by open and close doors;
the first room is a shower room equipped with an air conditioner or a preparation room before entry into the second room;
the second room is a powder suction and removal room equipped with the suction and removal apparatus of claim 1 ; and
the third room is a preparation room for exiting to the external environment.

8. The suction and removal system of claim 7 , wherein
the workroom and the first room are controlled so that the pressure in the workroom is lower than the pressure in the first room;
the third room and the external environment are controlled so that the pressure in the third room is higher than the atmospheric pressure in the external environment; and
the first room, the second room, and the third room are controlled so that the pressures in the first room and the second room are lower than the pressure in the third room.

9. The suction and removal system of claim 7 , wherein the workroom is a space for manufacturing pharmaceuticals or agrochemicals in which highly active pharmacological substances including pharmaceutical raw materials and agrochemical raw materials are used.

10. A method that uses the suction and removal system of claim 7 for sucking and removing powder, the method comprising:
a step A of opening, by a worker wearing a working coat in the workroom, the open and close door between the workroom and the first room to enter the first room, and thereafter closing the open and close door between the workroom and the first room to close off the first room;
a step B of taking, when the first room is an air shower room, an air shower by the worker, stopping the air shower, and capturing the scattered powder by the air conditioner, or taking, when the first room is a mist shower room, a mist shower by the worker, stopping the mist shower, and damping the scattered powder and the powder still attached to the working coat to prevent re-scattering;
a step C of opening, by the worker, the open and close door between the first room and the second room to enter the second room, and thereafter closing the open and close door between the first room and the second room to close off the second room;
a step D of using, by the worker, the suction and removal apparatus in the second room for sucking and removing the powder attached to the working coat, and thereafter taking off the working coat;
a step E of opening, by the worker, the open and close door between the second room and the third room to enter the third room, and thereafter closing the open and close door between the second room and the third room to close off the third room; and
a step F of opening by the worker, after preparing to exit from the third room to the external environment, the open and close door between the third room and the external environment to exit to the external environment under the atmospheric pressure, and thereafter closing the open and close door between the third room and the external environment.

11. A method that uses the suction and removal system of claim 7 for sucking and removing powder, the method comprising:
a step A of opening, by a worker wearing a working coat in the workroom, the open and close door between the workroom and the first room to enter the first room, and thereafter closing the open and close door between the workroom and the first room to close off the first room;
a step B of not performing any removal operation by the worker when the first room is a preparation room;
a step C of opening, by the worker, the open and close door between the first room and the second room to enter the second room, and thereafter closing the open and close door between the first room and the second room to close off the second room;
a step D of using, by the worker, the suction and removal apparatus in the second room for sucking and removing the powder attached to the working coat, and thereafter taking off the working coat;
a step E of opening, by the worker, the open and close door between the second room and the third room to enter the third room, and thereafter closing the open and close door between the second room and the third room to close off the third room; and
a step F of opening by the worker, after preparing t

Assignees

• Toyo Engineering Corp
• Tec Project Services Corp

Inventors

• Shime Hideki

Classifications

• F24F3/167 Primary

  Clean rooms, i.e. enclosed spaces in which a uniform flow of filtered air is distributed (air distribution by perforated walls F24F7/10) · CPC title

• A47L9/12

  Dry filters · CPC title

• B08B3/02

  Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays · CPC title

• B01D2273/28

  Making use of vacuum or underpressure · CPC title

• A47L5/36

  Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back · CPC title