Method for conveying and apparatus using the same

A method for conveying an object and a conveying apparatus are provided. The method includes steps of loading a first object at a first position by a transmission apparatus, loading a second object onto a carrying platform, providing a supporter having a first holder and a second holder, unloading the second object by the transmission apparatus, and adjusting a position of the supporter relative to that of the carrying platform for locating the first object on the carrying platform. The provided method and conveying apparatus adopts a single supporter for conveying the objects. The object standby for being processed and the processed one can be loaded and unloaded with greater safety and stability thereby.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a method and an apparatus for conveying an object, and in particular to the method and the apparatus which conveys the object with great safety and stability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the present electronic product industry, there are several processes involved in manufacturing an electronic device, and different processing systems and methods are necessary to be adopted while fabricating different components thereof. Besides, a sealed environment and even a clean environment are also of great importance for the mentioned processes and apparatuses, such as the electroplating, the etching, the depositing, the sputtering, the packaging and the testing processes and the relevant apparatuses.

However, the conventional processing system, which includes a conveying belt or a transmission apparatus for loading an electronic component for being processed therein and unloading the processed electronic component therefrom, is not able to satisfy the mentioned demands. A quite long distance for conveying and transmitting the electronic components is always necessary for the electronic component fabrication because several conventional processing systems are included therein. Hence the whole apparatus would occupy a lot of space. Furthermore, the electronic component, no matter the one for being processed or the processed one, would be at a great risk of being contaminated and damaged. Moreover, the entry and the export of the processing system need to be respectively opened when the electronic component is loaded therein and unloaded therefrom, which may also result in a contamination of the processing system. Therefore, such a processing system is not practical as its high cost in addition to the mentioned drawbacks.

In the present days, a processing system having only an entry for the electronic component is commonly applied in the electronic component fabrication. All the electronic components including the processed ones and the ones for being processed are respectively loaded into the processing system and unloaded therefrom. Hence the conveying or the transmitting distance can be reduced and the electronic components are further protected from being contaminated in the process. Through the transmission apparatus, an electronic component for being processed is loaded into the processing system, and then the electronic component, which is processed therein, is unloaded therefrom. For loading and unloading the electronic component more easily, a conveying apparatus needs to be configured in the processing system.

Please refer toFIG. 1, which is a diagram showing a conventional conveying apparatus configured in the processing system according to the prior art. The conventional conveying apparatus includes a first supporter11and a second supporter12with different heights for respectively holding a first object21loaded in and a second object22unloaded by a transmission apparatus10, which is shown inFIG. 2. A holder111is configured with the first supporter11for holding the first object21and then being lowered, so that the first object21can be transferred to the carrying platform of the processing system (not shown). The second object22is lifted off the carrying platform through the second supporter12, so as to be conveyed by the transmission apparatus10. With reference toFIGS. 2(A) and 2(B), which are top-views showing the arrangements of the first supporter11and the second supporter12, respectively, it is apparent that the first object21is held by the first supporter11and the second object22is held by the second supporter12.

Since the first supporter11is arranged at the outer portion of the processing system and the second supporter12is arranged at the inner portion thereof, the respective holding areas for holding objects are different. As shown inFIG. 1, L1and L2are the holding lengths of the holding areas for the first object21and the second object22, respectively, wherein L2is smaller than L1. Accordingly, the holding area of the second supporter12for holding the second object22is smaller than that of the first supporter11for holding the first object21, which will make the second object22easy to fall out of its position in the processing if a vibration of the processing system or an operation error for the transmission apparatus10happens.

Moreover, fall of the second object22not only hurts itself but also damages the carrying platform or the other apparatus configured in the processing system. This may cause the processing system to shut down. The whole process has to be broken down because the hurt object needs to be taken off therefrom, the processing system needs to be cleaned out, and the broken parts thereof also need to be repaired. The mentioned cleaning and repairing always take much time and money. Besides, the hurt object may contaminate the processing system and the production yield is reduced accordingly. An additional production cost is hence necessary.

Based on the mentioned points, it is necessary for the manufacturers to develop a processing system with an improved conveying or transmission apparatus for overcoming the drawbacks of the conventional ones. An improved method and an improved apparatus for conveying are provided in the present application accordingly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a method and an apparatus for conveying are provided. The conveyed object sliding and damaging can be overcome through the provided method and apparatus, which is much simplified. The production cost and the time consuming are reduced accordingly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method and an apparatus for conveying an object are provided. The conveying apparatus has a supporter configured therein, which is able to be elevated. Furthermore, two holders with different heights are configured thereon. The object is conveyed with safety and stability by controlling the supporter and the holders. Since the holders are configured at the same supporter and have identical holding areas for holding the object, the object is easy to be positioned and conveyed. The production efficiency is increased due to the reduction of the possibility of the object sliding and falling.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method for conveying an object is provided. The method includes steps of loading a first object at a first position by a transmission apparatus, loading a second object onto a carrying platform, providing a supporter having a first holder and a second holder, unloading the second object by the transmission apparatus, and adjusting a second distance between the supporter and the carrying platform for locating the first object on the carrying platform.

Preferably, when a first distance between the supporter and the transmission apparatus is adjusted, the first object is held at the first position by the first holder and the second object is held at a second position by the second holder.

Preferably, a distance between the first holder and the second holder is constant.

Preferably, a holding area of the first holder for holding the first object is equal to that of the second holder for holding the second object.

Preferably, the second holder is located at a position corresponding to that of the carrying platform when the first object is located at the first position.

Preferably, the method further includes a step of adjusting the first distance to locate the transmission apparatus between the first position and the second position after the first object is held at the first position and the second object is held at the second position.

Preferably, the method further includes a step of adjusting the second distance so that the first holder is located at a third position and the second holder is located at a fourth position.

Preferably, the third position is equal to the first position.

Preferably, the fourth position is equal to the third position.

Preferably, the method further includes a step of adjusting the first distance after the first holder is located at the third position and the second holder is located at the fourth position, wherein the transmission apparatus is located between the fourth position and a position of the carrying platform.

Preferably, the method further includes a step of adjusting the second distance after the first distance being adjusted, so that the first holder is located at the first position and the second holder is located at the second position.

Preferably, the method further includes a step of rotating the supporter after the first object is loaded onto the carrying platform.

Preferably, the method further includes a step of adjusting the second distance between after the supporter being rotated, so that the second holder is moved to be located at a position of the carrying platform.

Preferably, the method further includes a step of rotating the supporter after the second holder being moved to be located at the position of the carrying platform.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a conveying apparatus having a conveying structure for conveying a first object and a second object is provided, wherein the first object is standby for being processed and the second object is processed. The conveying structure includes an elevating platform and a supporter configured on the elevating platform and having a first holder and a second holder for carrying the first object and the second object, respectively.

Preferably, the conveying apparatus further includes a carrying platform having a hole thereon corresponding to the supporter, wherein the first object is processed on the carrying platform to form the second object.

Preferably, the conveying apparatus further includes a transmission apparatus for loading the first object and unloading the second object.

Preferably, the conveying apparatus further includes a turning device configured on the elevating platform and connected to the supporter for rotating the supporter.

Preferably, the first holder and the second holder respectively have a first holding part and a second holding part for holding the first object and the second object.

Preferably, the first holding part and the second holding part are fillister structures.

Preferably, a holding area of the first holding part is equal to that of the second holding part.

Preferably, the first holder and the second holder are configured on the supporter by inlaying.

Preferably, the first object and the second object are ones selected from a group consisting of a glass substrate, a circuit board, a wafer and a planar electronic component.

Preferably, the conveying apparatus is further configured in a process system being one selected form a group consisting of a sputtering system, an electroplating system, an etching system, a depositing system, a packaging system, a testing system and a treating system in a sealed environment.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood through the following descriptions with reference to the drawings, wherein:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer toFIGS. 3 and 4showing the configuration of the conveying apparatus according to example embodiments. The conveying apparatus3includes a carrying platform31and an elevating platform32, wherein a first object21or a second object22(as shown inFIG. 4) is disposed on the carrying platform31to be processed. The elevating platform32is configured exactly below the carrying platform31and has a plurality of supporters33disposed thereon. A first holder331and a second holder332are respectively configured at a first position and a second position on each of the supporters33, and the distance therebetween is constant. The carrying platform31has a plurality of holes311thereon respectively corresponding to the supporter33, so that the supporter33would lift smoothly via the hole311on the carrying platform31, while the elevating platform32is elevated. In addition, the elevating platform32further has a turning device34with a plurality of rods341. The first holder331and the second holder332configured on each of the supporters33are rotated by the corresponding rod341. The plurality of supporters33are linked to one another through the rods341and the turning device34, so that the first holders331and the second holders332mounted on the supporters33can be rotated simultaneously. According to an example embodiment, the elevating movement of the elevating platform32and the rotation of the first holder331and the second holder332for respectively holding the first object21and the second object22, which are conveyed by the transmission apparatus30, are controlled. Hence the objects are loaded and unloaded with safety thereby. Although it is preferable to carry out the example embodiments by using four supporters as illustrated inFIG. 3, one skilled person in the art could also use any number of plural supporters to accomplish the present invention. For simplifying the illustrations, the plural components, such as the supporters33, the first holders331and the second holders332, are mentioned by singular noun in following descriptions.

As shown inFIG. 4, the first holder331on the supporter33is configured to hold the first object21, and the second holder332, which is located at a second position with a lower height on the supporter33, is configured to hold the second object22. Compared with the prior art, the first object21and the second object22are held on the same supporter in the conveying apparatus of the present invention. Furthermore, the first holder331and the second holder332respectively have a first holding part3311and a second holding part3321configured thereon. Both the first holding part3311and the second holding part3322have fillister structures and respectively contact the first object21and the second22to supporter and position them. Besides, the first holding part3311and the second holding part3322have the same length, i.e. L3is equaled to L4, and the holding areas thereof are identical, so as to prevent the first object21or the second object22from falling while the transmission apparatus30is erroneously operated. Preferably, in order to improve the transmission stability of the first object21and the second object22, an additional treatment for being skidproof is provided to the contact surface of the first holding part3311and the second holding part3322.

Please refer toFIGS. 5(A) to 5(H), which illustrate the method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 5(A)shows that the second object22is disposed on the carrying platform31of the conveying apparatus3for being processed. The supporter33, the first holder331and the second holder332are located below the carrying platform31in the meanwhile. While the second object22is processed, the supporter33would lift due to the elevation movement of the elevating platform32, as shown inFIG. 3. The second distance between the supporter33and the carrying platform31is adjusted, which prevents the lifting supporter33from colliding the second object22on the carrying platform31when the first holder331passes through the hole311.

As shown inFIG. 5(B)andFIG. 3, when the supporter33lifts to a position closed to that of the carrying platform31, that is to say, when the first holder331is located at the position above the carrying platform31and the second holder332is located on the position as high as the carrying platform31, the supporter33is rotated by the rotating device34, and the first holder331and the second holder332are hence turned to be perpendicular to each other for holding the second object22.

As shown inFIG. 5(C), the first distance between the supporter33and the transmission apparatus30, which has the first object21therein, is adjusted so that the transmission apparatus30is at a first position H1for loading the first object21. In the meanwhile, the first holder331and the second holder332are still respectively located at the same positions shown inFIG. 5(B), and the second object22is also located on the carrying platform31. The second holder332is now standby to hold the second object22.

As shown inFIG. 5(D), the second distance between the supporter33and the carrying platform31, which has the first object21therein, is adjusted and the supporter33lifts to the first position H1accordingly, so as to lift up the first object21via the first holder331. Moreover, the second object22, which was disposed on the carrying platform31, is held and conveyed to a second position H2by the second holder332.

As shown inFIG. 5(E), after the transmission apparatus30being unloaded through adjusting the first distance between the supporter33to that of the transmission apparatus30, the second distance between the supporter33and the carrying platform31is adjusted again and the supporter33lifts accordingly, so that the first object21and the second object22are held on a third position H3and a fourth position H4by the first holder331and second holder332, respectively. It is worthy to be mentioned that the supporter33is not necessary to be moved to load out the processed objects, i.e. the first object21and the second object22are able to be located on the original positions in the processing apparatus, if the operation space inside the processing apparatus is large enough.

As shown inFIG. 5(F), the first distance between the supporter33and the transmission apparatus30is adjusted so that the transmission apparatus30is at a position between the carrying platform31and the second holder332for conveying the second object22. In the meanwhile, the second holder332and the fourth position H4are at a height higher than that of the transmission apparatus30.

As shown inFIG. 5(G), the second distance between the supporter33and the carrying platform31is adjusted and the supporter33is lowered accordingly, so that the first holder331and the second holder332are respectively located on the first position H1and the second position H2. The second object22held by the second holder332is hence disposed on the transmission apparatus30. Alternatively, the second object22is unloaded from the forth position H4if the transmission apparatus30is moved without moving the first holder331and the second holder332.

As shown inFIG. 5(H), the first distance between the supporter33and the transmission apparatus30is adjusted to move out the transmission apparatus30having the processed second object22thereon. Then the second distance between the supporter33and the carrying platform31is further adjusted and the supporter33is lowered accordingly, so that the first object21held by the first holder331could be disposed on the carrying platform31. The first object21is being processed thereon, and the first holder331and the second holder332would keep being lowered in the meanwhile and be rotated for being recovered to the state shown inFIG. 5(A). The conveying process of the method according to the present invention may be performed again as the first object21is processed to form the second object22.

In this case, the first object21and the first object22are planar electronic components such as glass substrates, circuit boards or wafers, and the processing system includes one of a sputtering system, an electroplating system, an etching system, a depositing system, a packaging system and a testing system, which are necessary to be operated in a sealed environment. In addition, the transmission apparatus30is a fork robot.

Furthermore, please refer toFIGS. 6(A) to 6(C)showing the configuration of the supporter and the holders according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The first holder331and the second holder332are configured on the supporter33by inlaying.FIG. 6(A)shows a top view of the second holder332having the second holding part3322thereon and a front view of the supporter33having the first holder331thereon. A fillister is formed at an intended position on the supporter33and then the second holder332is set thereon, as shown inFIG. 6(B). The second holder332is further fixed on the supporter33by screwing or bolting a fixing component in the fixing hole3322, as shown inFIG. 6(C). On the other hand, the first holder331is also configured on the supporter33in this way, which is needless to be mentioned with repetition.

The glass substrate, for example, is easy to be broken in the conventional conveying apparatus and thus the processing system would shut down therefor. It generally takes at least 12 hours to clean and repair the processing system with the conveying apparatus, which results in a time consumption in the whole process. However, such a drawback of the conventional system is overcome through the method and the conveying apparatus of the present invention. Since two different kinds of supporters respectively for loading and unloading the electronic components are needless in the present invention, so that the substrate damage resulted from slipping is prevented. The stability for carrying or holding the substrate is improved and thus the substrate damage is reduced thereby. Furthermore, the configuration of the conveying apparatus and the method in the present invention are also more simplified and easily controlled. The yield of the processing system and the cost down for the production are also enhanced as a result.

Based on the above, the present invention actually provides an improved method and conveying apparatus for conveying the object in a processing system. Instead of the conventional scheme for conveying the object in the prior art, the present invention adopts a single supporter therefor. By providing two holders at positions with different heights on the supporter, and controlling the elevating movement of the holders and the supporter, the object standby for being processed and the processed one are able to be loaded in and unloaded from the processing system with greater safety and stability. The object damage resulted from slipping can be prevented efficiently. Hence, the present invention not only has novelty and progressiveness, but also has an industry utility.