Rotary vacuum seal for a wafer transport system
US4249846A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 1978 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S414/139
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
In a rotary vacuum sealed wafer transport system for transporting semiconductive wafers between ambient atmosphere and subatmospheric pressure within a wafer processing station, the wafers, on a conveyor web pass through a slot in the vacuum chamber of the processing station. The evacuable envelope of the processing station has an external concave face portion intersecting with a generally planar face portion with the slot being positioned generally at the intersection of the concave and planar face portions. A deformable elastic roller, preferably pneumatically inflated, is disposed for rolling sealing engagement with the conveyor web and wafer and for wiping sealing engagement with portions of the planar and concave faces to provide a gas tight seal of the slot while permitting passage of the conveyor web with the wafers thereon into the evacuated wafer processing station. In a preferred embodiment, the conveyor web passes through input and output slots with pneumatic rollers sealing the pair of slots. In the latter case, the rollers are preferably driven in unison to prevent any wiping action of the roller on the surface of the wafer. In an alternative embodiment, the conveyor w…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.