Clean transfer method and apparatus therefor
US6062808A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 16, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S414/14
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A clean transfer method and an apparatus therefor capable of facilitating storage and transfer of transferred objects by a vacuum clean box and realizing transfer of the objects to various processing units other than a vacuum unit. A vacuum clean box and a clean unit are airtightly connected to each other. The vacuum clean box includes a first shutter acting also as a lid and arranged so as to airtightly close a first opening of the box. The clean unit is provided with a second opening selectively closed by a second shutter. Airtight connection between the vacuum clean box and the clean unit is carried out while keeping the first and second openings closed by the first and second shutters, respectively, to thereby form a closed space therebetween which the first and second shutters face. Then, the closed space is evacuated to a vacuum, followed by opening of only the first shutter. Subsequently, a clean atmosphere which is substantially identical with a clean atmosphere in the clean unit is formed in the closed space and the second shutter is opened to introduce the first and second shutters into the clean unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.