Method for introducing items from a container into the process chamber of a containment under aspectic conditions, and lock arrangement therefor

A lock arrangement for the introduction of articles (960) under aseptic conditions from containers (9;91,92,93), which have been supplied in series, into a process chamber (43), which is surrounded by a housing (49), of a containment (4) a via the lock arrangement (1) positioned in a setup area (A), the lock arrangement comprising:

• a) an input station (3) upstream of the process chamber (43);
• b) wherein a single one of the containers (9;91,92,93) comprises:
• ba) a vessel (94) with an aseptic interior space (940) and an aperture (95), which has been closed with a cover (98);
• and
• bb) the articles (960) stored in the interior space (940) that are to be treated in the process chamber (43) after the cover (98) is opened;
• c) at least two passages (47,48) leading into the process chamber (43) from the input station (3) to transfer the articles (960) from the containers (9;91,92,93) into the process chamber (43), each of the passages (47,48) is closeable on one side by a lid (51) that has been guided into abutment in the process chamber (43) and/or on an other side by the cover (98), facing the passage (47,48), of the respective container (9;91,92,93) that has been guided into abutment with the input station (3);
• d) a decontamination device (7), wherein the container (9;91,92,93) guided into abutment with the passage (47,48), has a surface of the cover (98) that faces toward the passage (47,48), together with an enclosed surrounding area (8), which is adapted to be decontaminated by the decontamination device (7);
• e) wherein after that surface of the cover (98) that faces toward the passage (47,48), including the surrounding area (8) thereof, has been decontaminated, the cover (98) is adapted to be opened and the articles (960) are adapted to be transferred from the vessel (94) through the aperture (95) thereof into the process chamber (43);
• and
• f) the lid (51) is adapted to be connected back onto the respective passage (47,48), which is the one the empty vessel (94) abuts, and thus the empty vessel (94) is removable from the passage (47,48);
• wherein
• g) the lid (51) is used alternately between the passages (47,48).