Cassette loader having compound translational motion
US5525024A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jun 11, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S414/14
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A cassette loading mechanism for semiconductor processing equipment reduces the possibility of repetitive stress injury that may occur as a result of repeatedly loading and unloading a cassette of substrates by eliminating manual cassette rotation. The loader receives a cassette and, by compound translational movement, rotates the cassette about 90.degree. from a horizontal loading position, in which the substrates contained therein are positioned in a vertical orientation, to a position in which the substrates contained therein are positioned in a horizontal orientation, such that the cassette is aligned to the other components of the substrate handling system for substrate transfer. The cassette motions are interlocked with the cassette clamping mechanism and the cassette loader door and a cassette shuttle by pneumatic or electronic logic.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.