Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for positioning a cassette pod onto a loadport by an overhead hoist transport system

US6848882B2 · kind B2 · utility

17Cited by
8References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 2003
Grant dateFeb 1, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 29, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S414/14
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for positioning a cassette pod onto a loadport by an overhead hoist transport system are described. The apparatus includes a vertical front panel of a process machine equipped with a docking opening therein, a loadport stage extending horizontally from the vertical front panel, a loadport situated on the loadport stage, at least two back guiding plates situated on the back of the loadport, at least two side guiding plates with one situated on each side of the loadport, a front guiding plate situated on the front side of the loadport, and a clamp positioner for guiding the position of an OHT clamp during an unloading operation of the cassette pod. The two halves of the clamp positioner move sideways away from each other to allow the cassette pod to pass therethrough during a loading operation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.