Device for loading substrates into and unloading them from a clean room

The invention relates to a device for loading substrates into and unloading them from a clean room, comprising a lock device onto which a transport box for receiving the substrates can be placed and which is fitted with a hermetically sealing lock opening, and a process unit adjacent to the lock opening. To allow for a valid adjustment of the lock device in relation to the process unit even when the lock device is exchanged, the invention provides for an adapter device to be positioned between the process unit and the lock device to which the lock device can be removably fixed and which is maintained at the level of the process unit and can be adjustably aligned in relation to same.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for loading and unloading substrates into or from a clean room having a lock device, on which a transport box can be brought for receiving the substrates and which is provided with a hermetically sealed opening, and which has a processing installation adjoining the locking opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With known devices of this type, the processing installation has a manipulating device, by means of which the substrates can be brought from a transport box into the processing installation or vice versa, when the transport box is docked at a lock opening. The exact position of the transport box with respect to the manipulating device, and therefore the processing installation, is important here. This orientation is performed once in a relatively extensive manner during the installation of the device. If now the lock device must be exchanged for whatever reason, another elaborate adjustment of the exchanged lock device with respect to the processing installation is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a device for loading and unloading substrates into or from a clean room of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein an adjustment of the lock device with respect to the processing installation, which is still applicable in case of an exchange of the lock device, is possible.

To attain this object in a device for loading and unloading substrates into or from a clean room of the type mentioned at the outset, an adapter device is provided which is arranged between the processing installation and the lock device, on which the lock device can be releasably fastened and which is held on the processing installation and can be adjustably oriented with respect thereto.

It can be achieved by means of the measures in accordance with the present invention that the frame-like adapter device needs to be oriented or adjusted with respect to the position of the processing device or its manipulating device only once, since then this adapter device always remains and is used as a once adjusted receiver for the lock device. This saves considerable outlay in work and time in case the lock device needs to be exchanged for another one, for example following an error indication.

It is achieved in an advantageous manner that the adapter device can be adjusted with respect to the processing device in a desired direction, or in practically all conceivable ones, i.e. placed vertically or horizontally, for example.

For setting the adapter device in the Z-direction, or for tilting it around the X-axis. The underside of the adapter is connected with two spaced apart, height-adjustable forcing screws which are held on a stationary element.

A setting around the Y-axis, in the direction of the X- and Y-axis, or the like, is achieved by the provision of adjustable forcing screws which are supported on a component of the processing installation.

For the appropriate fixation of the setting fastening screws are provided which pass through bores of larger diameter.

The connection of the respective lock device with the adapter device is achieved in a quick and simple manner by means of spaced apart indexing pins, which can be fittingly and essentially free of play plugged into receiving bores of the lock device. A simple exchangeability of the lock device results from the fact that the lock device has a base plate which has a bore pattern corresponding to the arrangement of the indexing pins in the adaptor device.

In a further embodiment which makes possible a quick and simple pre-positioned placement of a transport box on the receiving table, which is displaceable, i.e. it can be docked at the lock opening, a roller track is provided in the area of the receiving table. If in the course of pivoting the roller track, preferably +90° and providing vertically upward extending lateral insertion slopes, the transport box can be brought in a simple manner on the roller track from two or three lateral directions, as well as from above, and therefore on the receiving table. A defined holding position of the transport box on the roller track results from inclining the roller track slightly in the direction toward the processing installation, or toward a loading and unloading level

It is structurally useful if the roller track is embodied to have two parallel track elements connected by a loop and extending on both sides of the receiving table. Useful further embodiments of the roller track therefore result from connecting the connecting loop to a lever whose other end is pivotably mounted on a vertical shaft, with the lever pivot shaft being displaceable in height.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, an advantageous construction in accordance with the provision of a lock door which can be connected with a cover is provided for the ability of hermetically sealing the lock opening by means of the lock door. Constructive embodiments ensue by the provision of a clutch disk connected with a parallelogram device, which is moved by a motor-driven worn-gear. The parallelogram drive has a hinged connecting rod from which a manual lever projects, and which is accessible from the outside.

Advantages in regard to constructive and technical labor outlay result from the closing movement of the lock door, the displacement movement of the receiving table and the lowering movement of the receiving table and the lowering movement of the roller track are derived from a similar crank drive, with the drive for these movements arranged inside the lock device.

Further details of the present invention can be taken from the following description, in which the present invention is described in greater detail and explained by means of the exemplary embodiment represented in the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance withFIGS. 1 and 2, the device10for loading and unloading substrates11into or from a clean room12has a lock device14, which holds or receives a transport box13with the substrates11, for transferring or receiving the substrates11to or from a processing installation16, which forms the clean room12and has, in a manner not represented, a manipulating device for receiving or transferring the substrates11from or to the transport box13.

The device10has an adapter device20, which is arranged between the lock device14and the processing installation16, for the vertical and horizontal adjustment of the lock device14with respect to the processing installation16, independently of their possibly not exactly vertically and/or horizontally aligned positions. The adapter device20has a base plate25, which is provided with an upper opening24and a lower opening23. The base plate25rests adjustably on a strip26, which is fixed in place and here is a part of the processing installation16, and on which two vertical forcing screws27, which are provided with spherical rollers22, are supported and are held at a distance from an angle element21of the base plate, and can be vertically screwed in or out. The base plate25can be displaced on the strip26in the horizontal X-direction, as well as in the Y-direction, which extends transversely with respect to it. By means of the displaceability of each one of the forcing screws27, the base plate25can also be moved in the vertical Z-direction and can be inclined with respect to it. In an upper and a lower area22and23, the base plate25is provided with forcing screws29, which are arranged at a distance and can be screwed in or out and in the mounted state are supported on a surface of the processing installation16. An alignment of the base plate25with respect to the processing installation16can take place by adjusting each one of the forcing screws29, wherein a pivot movement of the base plate25with respect to the X- and/or the Y-axes is possible.

The base plate25has bores33of large diameter near the forcing screws29, through which fastening screws34of smaller diameter pass, which can be screwed into threaded bores36of an adjoining part of the processing installation16, and whose head is supported on a washer37(FIG. 4). Because of this, an adjustment, for example in the mm range, is possible, and the position of the adapter device20, which is adjusted in respect to the processing installation16, can be fixed in place.

Here, the base plate25of the adapter device20is equipped with indexing pins32and threaded bores42, for example four. A vertical base plate40of the lock device14has bores41in a corresponding bore pattern for the essentially play-free receipt of the indexing pins32and screws35for screwing into the threaded bore42.

Because of the adjustment of the adapter device20with respect to the processing installation16, and the releasably pluggable connection with the lock device14, it is possible without any further adjustment measures to replace the lock device14with another lock device, which is provided with the same bore pattern on its base plate40. Here, the base plate40and the base plate25lie flat against each other.

In accordance withFIG. 1, the lock device14has a housing43, whose front is closed off by the base plate40, which extends past the top of the housing43. The upper cover of the housing43is formed by a support plate44, above which a receiving table45for the transport box13is held. In a manner still to be described, the receiving table45can be moved back and forth with respect to the vertical base plate40and can be docked against the latter with the transport box13.

The base plate40has a lock window46, which is aligned with the coaxial opening24of the base plate25, both of which can be closed by means of a lock door47. The transport box13has an opening48coaxially with the lock window46, which can be hermetically sealed by means of a cover49. The transport box13is displaced toward the base plate40for receiving or transferring the substrates11from or to the transport box13. In a manner yet to be described, the cover49is unlocked from the transport box13with the aid of the lock door47, is removed and connected with the lock door47. Once the lock door47with the cover49is moved out of the area of the lock window46, the substrates11can be removed from the transport box13with the aid of the manipulation device, not represented, and brought to the processing installation16(into the clean room12), or vice versa. It is understood that, following the loading of the transport box13, the cover49is connected with the transport box13in a correspondingly reverse manner for the hermetic sealing of the opening48of the latter, and is unlocked from the lock door47and removed.

All drive and transfer elements necessary for the movement of the receiving table45and the lock door47are arranged inside the housing43of the lock device14. A gear motor, not represented, is flanged to the underside or inside of the support plate44and is connected via a crank gear52with the receiving table45for moving the latter horizontally back and forth. For this purpose the crank gear52has a crank roller, which engages a lower circular groove of the receiving table45, so that the receiving table45can be moved along rails.

A threaded spindle57is seated in the support plate44, which extends vertically downward and can be driven at its bottom by a gear motor58. A carriage housing59can be moved up and down along the threaded spindle57via a nut61. The carriage housing59, open toward the base plate40, receives the horizontal portion of an L-shaped arm62, on whose vertical arm end the lock door is fastened. Facing away from the nut61, the carriage housing59has a carriage63, which is guided, vertically displaceable, along a vertical guide64, which is held on the base plate40. The end of the horizontal portion of the L-shaped are62, which passes through the opening23of the base plate25and an opening39of the base plate40, is embodied as a carriage65, which is guided, horizontally displaceable back and forth, on a horizontal guide66of the carriage housing59. The horizontal displacement of the L-shaped arm62takes place by means of a gear motor67flanged to the carriage housing59, which drives a crank gear68, whose crank roller loosely engages a circular groove of the carriage portion65of the L-shaped arm62. In this way the lock door47is horizontally moved toward and away from the lock window46or the opening24with the aid of the gear motor67, while the L-shaped arm62, and therefore the lock door47, can be moved with the aid of the gear motor58in the vertical direction out of or into the area of the lock window46.

In accordance withFIGS. 1,3and4, the lock device14has a roller track75in the area of the receiving table45, which has parallel roller strips77equipped with rollers76on both longitudinal sides of the receiving table45. The two roller strips77are rigidly connected with each other by means of an arched U-shaped rail78. In a center area between the two roller strips77, the U-shaped rail78is fixedly connected with the upper end of an angular lever79, whose vertical portion is conducted through the support plate44, and whose lower horizontal return portion supports a bearing bushing81on its free end, through which a vertical shaft82is passed. The support plate44is provided with a semicircular recess83, which the lever79penetrates and whose radius corresponds to the pivot radius of the lever79around the shaft82. The shaft82receiving the bearing bushing81is guided up and down in the vertical direction on a stationary guide84. The pivot movement and the vertical up and down movement of the lever79are performed, partially not represented, by means of a motor. The lifting motion of the roller track75is for example provided by the already mentioned arrangement of the gear motor71and the crank gear72. By means of the pivot movement of the lever79around the shaft82, the roller track75can be brought out of a position oriented toward the base plate40or the lock window46into a position moved in one or the other pivot direction by 90°. In this way a transport box13can be brought horizontally on the roller track75from three directions, which are located vertically in respect to each other, or any arbitrary positions between these. The roller strips77of the roller track75have vertically upward extending insertion slopes86, for example in each of two distanced areas, which make the placement of a transport box13on the roller track75from above possible. By depositing or rolling a transport box up on the roller track75, pre-positioning of the transport box in respect to the receiving table45has been achieved.

Because of the guide84for the shaft82, the roller track75can be raised or lowered with respect to the receiving table45. In the raised position (FIG. 1), a transport box13is placed on the roller track75or moved away from it or lifted off. In the lowered position (FIG. 3), Fixation pins87provided on the receiving table45and arranged at a distance from each other engage corresponding blind receiver bores88on the underside of the transport box13, so that the exact positioning of the transport box13on the receiving table45is achieved. In the exemplary embodiment represented, there are three fixation pins87arranged in a triangle, for example.

The two roller strips77of the roller track75are provided with a slight descending slope in such a way that an inclination in respect to the docking or loading level89is achieved, wherein one or both roller strips77are provided with a stop90on this end.

FIG. 5shows the locking mechanism for or of the cover49with the transport box13. Two spaced apart T-shaped keys91are pivotably maintained on respective stationary shafts92. They are driven by a gear motor93, which is connected with a worm wheel96via a coupling94and a worm shaft95. A clutch disk97is frictionally connected with the worm wheel96and is connected, fixed against relative rotation, with a first crank lever98, which is connected via a hinged rod99with a second crank lever98′. A parallelogram gear is achieved in this way. The movement of the hinged rod99is limited by stops100and100′, which are equipped with limit switches. The hinged rod99has a lever shoulder101approximately at the center, which is laterally conducted toward the outside of the cover49and which, in case of the loss of the motor drive, makes it possible to perform or finish the opening or closing process manually against the frictional resistance of the blocked gear and the natural opening or closing force. The shoulder101is conducted through a lateral opening of the lock door47, and it can be actuated via a bolt102connected with it. It can be seen that this locking mechanism is arranged inside the lock door47, so that it is axially connected with or released from the keys91when the cover49is set down or lifted.