Storage cassette with positionable stoppers and method for operating the same

A storage cassette (1) for accommodating substrates includes a box-shaped case (10) having a space and defining an entrance for inserting the substrates into the space; and a pair of stopping mechanisms (60) each including a top first locating mechanism (30), a bottom second locating mechanism (50) and a stopper (40) engaged therebetween. The stopping mechanisms are respectively located at opposite sides of the entrance. Each locating mechanism defines a first locating portion, a second locating portion closer to a corresponding side of the opposite sides than the first locating portion, and a connecting means portion interconnecting the first and second locating means. In a first position, the stopper is engaged in the first locating portion, and substrates accommodated in the cassette cannot be displaced; in a second position, the stopper is engaged in the second locating portion, and the substrates can be freely slid out from the space.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cassette, and more particularly to a storage cassette which can conveniently store substrates therein.

2. Description of Related Art

In handling substrates, such as glass substrates for LCDs, storage cassettes are useful for holding and stowing the substrates and keeping them from contacting each other. The substrates are thus protected from damaging each other.

Referring toFIG. 6, a conventional cassette is described in Japan Yodogawa Kasei publication number H05-147680. The cassette1comprises an upper frame2, a lower frame5, a plurality of supporting bodies3therebetween, and a plurality of stoppers4therebetween. The supporting bodies3are plate-shaped, and define a plurality of grooves31. Two stoppers4are shown, both being at a first end of the cassette1. Thus, the frames2,5, the supporting bodies3, and the stoppers4define a space therebetween for accommodating substrates. An opposite second end of the cassette1defines an entrance for inserting the substrates into the space. Another two stoppers4may then be attached to the cassette1at the second end, thereby securing the substrates in the cassette1.

The cassette1may be transported from one place to another place in an upright orientation with no stoppers4attached to the second end thereof. However, if the cassette1is mishandled and tipped, the substrates may slide out from the entrance and be damaged. If stoppers4are attached to the second end of the cassette1, this prevents the substrates from sliding out from the cassette1. However, when the substrates need to be removed from the cassette1, these stoppers4must be detached. The attachment and detachment of said stoppers4is troublesome and time-consuming. Moreover, the substrates are liable to be damaged during such attachment and detachment.

For the above reasons, an improved cassette with convenient stoppers is desired.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a storage cassette with conveniently positionable stoppers.

In order to achieve the object set forth above, a cassette for accommodating the substrates, includes: a box-shaped case having a space for retaining substrates and defining an entrance for inserting the substrates into the space; and a pair of stopping mechanisms each comprising a top first locating mechanism, a bottom second locating mechanism, and a stopper engaged therebetween. The stopping mechanisms are located at opposite sides of the entrance, each locating mechanism defines a first locating means, a second locating means closer to a corresponding side of the case than the first locating means, and a connecting means interconnecting the first locating means and the second locating means.

In a first position, the stopper is engaged in the first locating means, and substrates accommodated in the cassette cannot be displaced; in a second position, the stopper is engaged in the second locating means, and the substrates can be freely slid out from the space.

Further, the present invention provides a method for operating the storage cassette. The method comprises the steps of: providing the storage cassette comprising first and second locating holes, connecting slots interconnecting the first and second locating holes, guiding slots, a stopper having a first coupling ring and a second coupling ring engaged in the first locating holes, and a compressed spring; pulling the stopper down so that the spring is further compressed, and the first and second coupling rings are disengaged from the first locating holes respectively; moving the stopper to the second locating holes along the connecting slots and the guiding slots until the first and second coupling rings are received in the second locating holes; and releasing pressure on the stopper.

When moving the stopper from the first position to the second position, the stopper is simply slid from the first locating holes to the second locating holes along the connecting slots. In this process, no part of the cassette needs to be detached. The risk of misplacing loose parts is eliminated, and the operating process is simple and speedy.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will be made to the drawings to describe the invention in detail.

Referring toFIG. 1, a cassette1of the present invention comprise a case10and four stopping mechanisms60. The case10comprises an upper frame12, a lower frame14, four supporting rods13, and two pairs of supporting plates20. The frames12,14and supporting rods13may be made of resin, and produced by way of injection molding. Two supporting rods13and two supporting plates20are located between the upper frame12and the lower frame14at each of opposite lateral sides of the case10. The two supporting plates20and two supporting rods13at each of the opposite lateral sides of the case10are located in a common plane. Each supporting plate20comprises a plurality of parallel retaining ribs23on an inner face thereof. Each retaining rib23includes a plurality of coplanar protrusions25extending inwardly into the case20. The case10can also be viewed as comprising two pairs of opposing supporting plates20. That is, the supporting plates20in each pair of supporting plates20face each other, with the protrusion25thereof being symmetrically opposite each other. The retaining ribs23and protrusions25cooperate with each other to retain a plurality of substrates therebetween. Thus, the case10defines a space for accommodating the substrates, and two opposite entrances for inserting the substrates into the space.

Two stopping mechanisms60are located at respective opposite sides of each of the entrances. Referring also toFIG. 2, each stopping mechanism60comprises a first locating mechanism30, a second locating mechanism50, and a stopper40between the first locating mechanism30and the second locating mechanism50.

The first locating mechanisms30and the second locating mechanisms50have essentially the same structure, therefore only one first locating mechanism30is described in detail herebelow. Referring also toFIG. 3AandFIG. 4, the locating mechanism30comprises a guiding plate32which is “L” shaped, a locating plate36parallel to the guiding plate32, a spacer block34for connecting the guiding plate32and the locating plate36together, a sliding ring38, a coil spring62, and a generally “C” shaped clip48. The guiding plate32defines an “L” shaped guiding slot324. The guiding slot324has a uniform width, and comprises a first part326and a second part328. A pair of first mounting holes320is defined in the guiding plate32at opposite sides of the guiding slot324respectively, near an opening (not labeled) of the guiding slot324. A pair of second mounting holes322is defined in the guiding plate32at opposite sides of the guiding slot324respectively, more distant from the opening of the guiding slot324than the first mounting holes320. The locating plate36defines a first locating hole365, a second locating hole366, and a narrowed connecting slot364interconnecting the first locating hole365and the second locating hole366. A diameter of the first locating hole365is the same as that of the second locating hole366, and greater than a width of the connecting slot364. The locating plate36further defines a pair of second mounting holes362adjacent to the second locating hole366. The spacer block34defines a pair of first mounting holes340and a pair of second mounting holes342, corresponding to the first and second mounting holes320,322of the guiding plate32. The sliding ring38defines a central through hole384, and an outer annular groove382. A diameter of the sliding ring38at the annular groove382is slightly less than the width of the guiding slot324.

Referring also toFIG. 3B, each second locating mechanism50comprises a guiding plate52, a locating plate56parallel to the guiding plate52, a spacer block54, and a sliding ring58. The guiding plate52defines a guiding slot524. The locating plate56defines a first locating hole565, a second locating hole566, and a narrowed connecting slot564interconnecting the first locating hole565and the second locating hole566. The sliding ring58defines a through hole584and an annular groove582. In addition, first mounting holes520,540and second mounting holes522,542,562are respectively defined in the guiding plate52, the spacer block54and the locating plate56.

The stopper40is substantially an elongate cylinder, and comprises an upper end43, a lower end45and an intermediate main body41. Diameters of the upper and lower ends43,45are identical, and less than a diameter of the main body41. The stopper40defines a first coupling ring42between the upper end43and main body41. A diameter of the first coupling ring42is less than that of the main body41and greater than that of the upper end43. The diameter of the first coupling ring42is also slightly less than that of the first and second locating holes365,366. The lower end45defines a second coupling ring44a predetermined distance below the main body41. A diameter of the second coupling ring44is the same as that of the first coupling ring42. The upper end43defines an annular groove46near a top (not labeled) thereof. A diameter of the upper end43in the annular groove46is substantially the same as an inner diameter of the clip48.

Assembly of each stopping mechanism60in the case10is as follows. The sliding rings38,58are received in the openings of the guiding slots324,524, and slid to inmost ends of the guiding slots324,524. Screws312are sequentially received through the second mounting holes362,342,322, thereby fixing the locating plate36, the spacer block34and the guiding plate32together as an upper stack in that order. The connecting slot364is parallel to the first part326of the guiding slot324, with nothing therebetween. The second part328of the guiding slot324is covered by the spacer block34. Screws512are sequentially received through the second mounting holes562,542,522, thereby fixing the locating plate56, the spacer block54and the guiding plate52together as a lower stack in that order. The upper and lower ends43,45of the stopper40are passed through the through holes384,584of the sliding rings38,58respectively. The first and second coupling rings42,44are engaged in the first locating holes365,565respectively. The coil spring62is placed around the upper end43on the sliding ring38. The coil spring62is compressed, to enable the clip48to be snappingly received in the annular groove46. The stopper40is thus engaged between the first locating mechanism30and the second locating mechanism50. Screws310are sequentially received through the first mounting holes340,320and the upper frame12, thereby fixing said upper stack to the upper frame12adjacent to a corresponding supporting rod13at one of the entrances. Screws510are sequentially received through the first mounting holes540,520and the lower frame12, thereby fixing said lower stack to the lower frame14adjacent to the same supporting rod13. The second locating holes366,566are close to an inner side131of the supporting rod13, and the connecting slots364,564are oriented perpendicular to the corresponding supporting plate20. If the first and second coupling rings42,44are moved out of engagement in the first locating holes365,565, the upper and lower ends43,45at the sliding rings382,582are slidable along the guiding slots324,524.

In a first position, the first and second coupling rings42,44are engaged in the first locating holes365,565respectively. Due to elastic force exerted by the compressed coil spring62, the stopper40cannot move up or down. In addition, because the diameter of the coupling rings42,44is greater than that of the connecting slots364,564, the stopper40cannot move in horizontal directions. Therefore substrates accommodated in the cassette1cannot be displaced.

When the substrates need to be taken out from the cassette1, the stopper40of each stopping mechanism60at one of the entrances is pulled down so that the coil spring62is further compressed. The first and second coupling rings42,44are disengaged from the first locating holes365,565respectively. The stopper40is then moved so that the upper and lower ends43,45slide along the connecting slots364,564and the guiding slots324,524until the upper and lower ends43,45are received in the second locating holes366,566. Pressure on the stopper40is then released. The coil spring62decompresses, and the stopper40moves up such that the first and second coupling rings42,44are engaged in the second locating holes364,564. In this second position, the stoppers40of the stopping mechanisms60are close to the inner sides131of the supporting rods13. The substrates are then freely slid out from the space along the protrusions25.

In the above-described process, no part of the cassette1needs to be detached. The risk of misplacing loose parts is eliminated, and removal and insertion of the substrates is simple and speedy.