IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0088237
(2000-07-06)
|
국제출원번호 |
PCT//US00/18511
(2002-03-18)
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§371/§102 date |
20020318
(20020318)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO01//04022
(2001-01-18)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Bores, Gregory
- Zabka, Michael C.
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Patterson, Thuente, Skaar &
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
7 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A wafer container has an open front defined by a frame for receiving a door. The frame has slots on opposite sides. The door utilizes two latching linkages that extend, lift, lower and retract two latching portions from the edge portion of each opposite side of the door and into and out of latch rec
A wafer container has an open front defined by a frame for receiving a door. The frame has slots on opposite sides. The door utilizes two latching linkages that extend, lift, lower and retract two latching portions from the edge portion of each opposite side of the door and into and out of latch receptacles on the frame. Each latching mechanism utilizes a sliding plate with a handle connected thereto and exposed on the front of the door. The sliding plate has a pair of lifting linkages cooperating with a pair of latching linkages. Moving the handles outwardly extends the latching portions into the latching receptacles, then pulls the door inwardly to seal the door to the container portion. The sliding plate includes a rack portion engaged with a pinion accessible from the front of the door by a latch key whereby the mechanism can be operated robotically.
대표청구항
▼
1. A wafer container comprising:a) a container portion for holding a plurality of wafers, the container portion having an open interior and a generally rectangular door frame defining an open front, the door frame having a latch receptacle, the container portion having a plurality of wafer slots tha
1. A wafer container comprising:a) a container portion for holding a plurality of wafers, the container portion having an open interior and a generally rectangular door frame defining an open front, the door frame having a latch receptacle, the container portion having a plurality of wafer slots that are each capable of receiving one of the wafers for maintaining the plurality of wafers in a horizontal spaced-apart orientation in the container; andb) a door placeable in the door frame to cover the open front and thereby seal the open interior, the door having a front and comprising:an outer seating portion sized for engaging with the generally rectangular door frame, anda latching mechanism comprising:a handle exteriorly exposed on the front of the door, said handle laterally moveable,a latch portion for extending into and retracting from the latch receptacle, anda motion translation portion connecting between the latch portion and the handle for translating lateral motion of the handle into extending and retracting of the latch portion.2. The wafer carrier of claim 1 wherein the latching mechanism is not within a door enclosure.3. The wafer carrier of claim 1 wherein the motion translation portion comprises a rack and pinion.4. The wafer carrier of claim 3 wherein the sliding handle portion is integral with the lifting linkage.5. The wafer container of claim 1 wherein the door has a left side and a right side, and wherein the latch mechanism is a first latch mechanism and the wafer container further comprises a second latch mechanism and wherein the first latch mechanism is positioned on the left side of the door and the second latch mechanism is positioned on the right side of the door.6. A wafer container comprising:a) a container portion for holding a plurality of wafers, the container portion having an open interior and a generally rectangular door frame defining a door opening, the door frame having a latch receptacle, the container portion having a plurality of wafer slots that are each capable of receiving one of the wafers for maintaining the plurality of wafers in a horizontal spaced-apart relationship; andb) a door comprising a door enclosure with two compartments for receiving a pair of latch mechanisms, and a pair of latching mechanisms in said two compartments, a pair of mechanism covers,the door placeable in the door frame to cover the door opening and thereby seal the interior, the door having a front that is opposite the interior when the door is latched to the container portion, each of the latching mechanisms comprising:a latch portion for engaging with the latch receptacle,a first actuation portion for receiving at least one of manual and robotic actuation, anda motion translation portion connecting between the latch portion and the actuation portion for translating actuation of the first actuation portion into engagement of the latch portion with the latch receptacle,each of the mechanism covers having a periphery and each of the mechanism covers covering the respective latching mechanism, each mechanism cover having slots therein and a gap between the periphery and the door enclosure providing access for cleaning and drying of said latching mechanisms; andwherein the latching mechanism further comprises a second actuation portion, and wherein the second actuation portion is a rotatable latch key receiver and the first actuation portion is a manually operable non-rotatable handle.7. A wafer container comprising:a) a container portion for holding a plurality of wafers, the container portion having an open interior and a generally rectangular door frame defining a door opening, the door frame having a latch receptacle, the container portion having a plurality of wafer slots that are each capable of receiving one of the wafers for maintaining the plurality of wafers in a horizontal spaced-apart relationship; andb) a door comprising a door enclosure with two compartments for receiving a pair of latch mechanisms, and a pair of latching mechanisms in said two compartments, a pair of mechanism covers,the door placeable in the door frame to cover the door opening and thereby seal the interior, the door having a front that is opposite the interior when the door is latched to the container portion, each of the latching mechanisms comprising:a latch portion for engaging with the latch receptacle,a first actuation portion for receiving at least one of manual and robotic actuation, anda motion translation portion comprising a rack and pinion mechanism connecting between the latch portion and the actuation portion for translating actuation of the first actuation portion into engagement of the latch portion with the latch receptacle,each of the mechanism covers having a periphery and each of the mechanism covers covering the respective latching mechanism, each mechanism cover having slots therein and a gap between the periphery and the door enclosure providing access for cleaning and drying of said latching mechanisms.8. A wafer container comprising:a) a container portion for holding a plurality of wafers, the container portion having an open interior and a generally rectangular door frame defining a door opening, the door frame having a latch receptacle, the container portion having a plurality of wafer slots that are each capable of receiving one of the wafers for maintaining the plurality of wafers in a horizontal spaced-apart relationship; andb) a door comprising a door enclosure with two compartments for receiving a pair of latch mechanisms, and a pair of latching mechanisms in said two compartments, a pair of mechanism covers,the door placeable in the door frame to cover the door opening and thereby seal the interior, the door having a front that is opposite the interior when the door is latched to the container portion, each of the latching mechanisms comprising:a latch portion for engaging with the latch receptacle,a first actuation portion for receiving at least one of manual and robotic actuation, anda motion translation portion connecting between the latch portion and the actuation portion for translating actuation of the first actuation portion into engagement of the latch portion with the latch receptacle,each of the mechanism covers having a periphery and each of the mechanism covers covering the respective latching mechanism, each mechanism cover having slots therein and a gap between the periphery and the door enclosure providing access for cleaning and drying of said latching mechanisms; andwherein the latching mechanism comprises:a latch arm with two ends, one end having a cam follower engaged to the first cam guide and the other end having a latch portion extending to the opening in the outer seating portion, the lifting linkage having a first lifting portion intermediate the two ends, the first cam guide configured to extend the latch portion outwardly with respect to the door in a first direction into the latch receptacle; anda lifting linkage connected to the sliding handle portion and laterally moveable therewith, the lifting linkage having a cooperating second lifting portion engageable with said first lifting portion, the first lifting portion and the second lifting portion arranged in an overlapping relationship, one of said first lifting portion and said second lifting portion having a ramp and the other of said first lifting portion and said second lifting portion have a ramp engagement surface, the second cam guide configured to move the lifting linkage with respect to the latch linkage whereby the ramp engagement portion rides on the ramp to move the latch linkage in a second direction substantially normal to the first direction when the latching portion is in the latch receptacle.9. A wafer container comprising:a) a container portion for holding wafers, the container portion having an open interior and a generally rectangular door frame defining a door opening, the door frame having a latch receptacle;b) a door placeable in the door frame to cover the door opening, the door comprising:an outer seating portion sized for engaging with the generally rectangular door frame,a latching mechanism comprising:a actuation portion for receiving external actuation, the actuation portion exteriorly accessible and rotatable,a latch portion for engagement with the latch receptacle,a pinion connected to the actuation portion, anda rack engaged with the pinion and connecting to the latch portion, whereby rotation of the actuation portion moves the latch portion.10. The wafer container of claim 9 wherein the door has a front and the latch mechanism is exposed on the front of the door.11. The wafer container of claim 9 wherein the actuation portion is a first actuation portion and wherein the latch mechanism further comprises a second actuation portion that is constrained to move laterally, the second actuation portion connecting to the rack, whereby the latch mechanism may be actuated by either rotating the first actuation mechanism or by laterally moving the second actuation member.12. The wafer container of claim 11 wherein the door has a front and the latch mechanism is exposed on the front.13. The wafer container of claim 9 wherein the door has a front, a left side and a right side, and wherein the latch mechanism is a first latch mechanism and the wafer container further comprises a second latch mechanism and wherein the first latch mechanism is positioned on the left side of the door and the second latch mechanism is positioned on the right side of the door.14. A wafer container comprising:a) a container portion for holding a plurality of wafers, the container portion having an open interior and a generally rectangular door frame defining a forward facing door opening, the door frame having a latch receptacle, the container portion having a plurality of wafer slots that are each capable of receiving one of the wafers for maintaining the plurality of wafers in a spaced-apart vertically stacked relationship; andb) a door placeable in the door frame to cover the door opening and thereby sealingly close the open interior, the door having a front and an outer seating portion sized for engaging with the generally rectangular door frame, the door having a latching mechanism comprising:a latch portion for engaging with the latch receptacle,a first rotatable actuation portion on the front of the door for receiving robotic actuation with a key,a second laterally moveable actuation portion on the front of the door for manual actuation, anda motion translation portion connecting between the latch portion and the first rotatable actuation portion and between the latch portion and the second laterally moveable actuation portion for translating actuation of said actuation portions into engagement of the latch portion with the latch receptacle.15. The wafer carrier of claim 14 wherein the motion translation portion comprises a rack and pinion.16. The wafer carrier of claim 14 wherein the latch mechanism is substantially exposed at said front providing access for cleaning and drying said mechanism.17. The wafer carrier of claim 14 wherein the latching mechanism is a first latching mechanism and the wafer carrier further comprises a second latching mechanism that is substantially a mirror image of the first latching mechanism.18. The wafer carrier of claim 14 wherein the motion translation portion provides a laterally outward motion to the latching portion and a motion in a forward direction.19. A wafer container comprising:a) a container portion for holding wafers, the container portion having an open interior and a generally rectangular door frame defining a door opening, the door frame having a latch receptacle;b) a door placeable in the door frame to cover the door opening, the door having an open interior and comprising:i) an outer seating portion sized for engaging with the generally rectangular door frame, the outer seating portion having a opening corresponding to the latch receptacle when the door is placed in the door frame;ii) a sliding handle portion constrained and laterally moveable within the enclosure, said portion including a handle exteriorly exposed on the front of the door;iii) a latch arm with two ends, one end having a cam follower engaged to the first cam guide and the other end having a latch portion extending to the opening in the outer seating portion, the lifting linkage having a first lifting portion intermediate the two ends, the first cam guide configured to extend the latch portion outwardly with respect to the door in a first direction into the latch receptacle; andiv) a lifting linkage connected to the sliding handle portion and laterally moveable therewith, the lifting linkage having a cooperating second lifting portion engageable with said first lifting portion, the fist lifting portion and the second lifting portion arranged in an overlapping relationship, one of said first lifting portion and said second lifting portion having a ramp and the other of said first lifting portion and said second lifting portion have a ramp engagement surface, the second cam guide configured to move the lifting linkage with respect to the latch linkage whereby the ramp engagement portion rides on the ramp to move the latch linkage in a second direction substantially normal to the first direction when the latching portion is in the latch receptacle.20. The wafer carrier of claim 19 further comprising a rack and pinion gear system connected to the sliding handle portion, the pinion accessible from exterior of the door whereby the door can be robotically operated by engagement with said pinion.21. A wafer carrier comprising:a) a container portion for holding wafers in a horizontal arrangement, the container portion having a open front and a latch receptacle on the container portion at the open front; andb) a door placeable to close the open front, the door comprising;i) a latching arm having a latching portion extendable outwardly in a first direction towards the latch receptacle; andii) a lifting linkage adjacent the latch linkage and moveable in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction, at least one of the lifting linkage and the latching arm having a ramp such that when the other of the lifting linkage and the latching portion moves with respect to the ramp, the ramp causes the latching linkage to be moved in a second direction substantially normal to the first direction;iii) a sliding handle portion constrained and laterally moveable within the enclosure, said portion including a handle exteriorly exposed on the front of the door and a connecting portion connecting the handle to the lifting linkage, whereby the door may be operated by moving the exteriorly exposed handle, the handle portion further comprising g a linear gear fixed thereto; andiv) a rotatable circular gear within the door enclosure engaged with the linear gear, the circular gear accessible from the front exterior of the door whereby the door may be robotically operated.
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