Patent ID: 6848882
Filing Date: 2005-02-01
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for positioning a cassette pod onto a loadport of a process machine comprising: a process machine having a vertical front panel and a docking opening therein; a loadport stage extending horizontally outwardly from said vertical front panel; a loadport situated on said loadport stage for receiving a cassette pod on a top surface of the loadport; at least two back guiding plates situated spaced-apart from each other in-between said loadport and said vertical front panel extending upwardly from said loadport stage and tilted at least 5° from a vertical plane away from said loadport for guiding a backside of a cassette pod onto said loadport, said at least two back guiding plates capable of moving sideways in opposite directions away from said docking opening; at least two side guiding plates with one situated fixedly on each of the two sides of said loadport extending upwardly from said loadport stage tilted at least 5° from a vertical plane away from said loadport for guiding two sides of a cassette pod onto said loadport; a front guiding plate situated fixedly on the front side of said loadport extending upwardly from said loadport stage and tilted at least 5° from a vertical plane away from said loadport for guiding a front side of a cassette pod onto said loadport; and a clamp positioner provided in two halves extending outwardly from said vertical front panel and are suspended over said at least two back guiding plates for guiding a clamp of an overhead hoist transport system to a top bracket on said cassette pod during an unloading operation of said pod from said loadport, said two halves of the clamp positioner capable of being moved sideways away from each other to allow an unobstructed passageway to said loadport during a loading operation of a cassette pod.