Patent Publication Number: US-2020286761-A1

Title: Substrate storage container

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is related to a substrate storage container that stores a plurality of substrates. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Substrate storage containers store substrates such as semiconductor wafers in an internal space, and are utilized to store the substrates in a warehouse, during conveyance among semiconductor processing apparatuses, for transport among factories, etc. For this reason, substrate storage containers protect the stored substrate from vibrations, impact, and the like during transport. 
     As such a substrate storage container, a substrate storage container which has an opening in the front of a container main body, a lid for closing the opening, support portions and substrate receiving portions for supporting substrates provided on both side surfaces of the container main body, and a substrate pressing portion provided on the lid, in which when the lid is attached to the container main body, substrates are sandwiched between the substrate pressing portion and the substrate receiving portions, and the substrates are supported by being lifted from the support portion is known (refer to Patent Document 1, for example). 
     RELATED ART 
     Patent Document 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-304122 
     SUMMARY 
     Problems to be Solved 
     However, in these substrate storage containers, the substrate receiving portions for guiding the substrate in the vertical direction are provided on both side surfaces of the container main body, and the pressing force from the substrate pressing portion which is provided on the lid is obliquely dispersed. Therefore, a large pressing force had been required because the pressure cannot be efficiently applied to the substrate receiving portion. 
     The present invention has been developed in view of the above problem. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a substrate storage container which is capable of efficiently applying pressure from a substrate pressing portion to a substrate receiving portion when a lid is attached to a container main body and substrates are supported by being is lifted from support portions and supported. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     (1) One aspect of the present invention is a substrate storage container which is equipped with a container main body having an opening at a front side, a support portion for supporting a substrate in the interior thereof, a substrate receiving portion located more toward the side of a rear wall side than the support portion, and a lid having a pressing member with a substrate pressing portion for pressing the substrate, the substrate storage container supporting the substrate by lifting the substrate from the support portion with the substrate pressing portion and the substrate receiving portion when the lid is attached to the container main body, and supporting the substrate with the support portion when the lid is removed from the container main body, the substrate receiving portion and the substrate pressing portion being present within a range of greater than or equal to 0 mm and less than or equal to 80 mm in the horizontal direction from a vertical center line that passes through the center of the container main body when the lid is viewed from the front. Note that a position corresponding to the center of the substrate when the substrate is stored in the substrate storage container is designated as the center of the container main body. 
     (2) Another aspect of the present invention is a substrate storage container which is equipped with a container main body having an opening on a front side, a support portion for supporting a substrate in the interior thereof, and a substrate receiving portion located more toward the side of a rear wall side than the support portion, and a lid having a pressing member formed with a substrate pressing portion for pressing the substrate, the substrate storage container supporting the substrate by lifting the substrate from the support portion with the substrate pressing portion and the substrate receiving portion when the lid is attached to the container main body, and supporting the substrate with the support portion when the lid is removed from the container main body, the substrate receiving portion and the substrate pressing portion being present at positions at which a reaction force component in a direction of a normal line at a contact portion with the substrate against a pressing force that operates on the contact portion of the substrate in a front-rear direction is greater than a reaction force component in a tangential direction at the contact portion. Note that a direction that connects the lid and the rear wall of the container main body is designated as the front-rear direction. 
     (3) In the aspect of (1) or (2) above, the substrate pressing portion may be present within a range of greater than or equal to 0° and less than or equal to 30° in the horizontal direction from the center of the container main body when the lid is viewed from the front. 
     (4) In any one of the aspects of (1) through (3) above, the substrate receiving portion may be present within a range of greater than or equal to 20° and less than or equal to 30° in the horizontal direction from the center of the container main body when the rear wall is viewed from the front. 
     (5) In any one of the aspects of (1) through (4) above, the substrate may have a diameter of 300 mm. 
     Effects 
     According to the present invention, a substrate storage container which is capable of efficiently applying a pressing force from a substrate pressing portion to a substrate receiving portion when a lid is attached to a container main body and a substrate is supported by being lifted from a support portion can be provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded schematic perspective view that illustrates a substrate storage container according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2A  is a collection of diagrams that illustrate the substrate storage container when a lid is attached, wherein (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view, and (c) is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A. 
         FIG. 2B  is a collection of diagrams that illustrate the substrate storage container when the lid is attached, wherein (d) is a cross sectional view taken along line B-B, (e) is a magnified cross sectional view of portion G, (f) is a magnified cross sectional view of portion H, and (g) is a magnified cross sectional view of portion I. 
         FIG. 3A  is a collection of diagrams that illustrate a container main body when the lid is removed, wherein (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view, and (c) is a cross sectional view taken along line E-E. 
         FIG. 3B  is a collection of diagrams that illustrate the container main body when the lid is attached, wherein (d) is a cross sectional view taken along line F-F, (e) is a magnified cross sectional view of portion J, and (f) is a magnified cross sectional view of portion K. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional diagram in the horizontal direction that illustrates a state in which a substrate is supported within the substrate storage container. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional diagram in the horizontal direction that illustrates a state in which a substrate is supported within a substrate storage container according to a second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Throughout the description of the embodiments in the present specification, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and symbols. 
     First Embodiment 
     First, a substrate storage container  1  will be described.  FIG. 1  is an exploded schematic perspective view that illustrates the substrate storage container  1 .  FIG. 2A  is a collection of diagrams that illustrate the substrate storage container  1  when a lid  20  is attached, wherein (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view, and (c) is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A.  FIG. 2B  is a collection of diagrams that illustrate the substrate storage container  1  when the lid  20  is attached, wherein (d) is a cross sectional view taken along line B-B, (e) is a magnified cross sectional view of portion G, (f) is a magnified cross sectional view of portion H, and (g) is a magnified cross sectional view of portion I. In  FIG. 1 , the horizontal direction is designated as an X axis direction, the vertical direction is designated as a Z axis direction, and a front-rear direction that connects the lid  20  and a rear wall  10   b  is designated as a Y axis direction when the substrate storage container  1  in which a surface of a substrate W is housed in the horizontal direction is viewed from side toward the lid  20  side. The X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are also illustrated in the subsequent drawings as necessary. 
     The substrate storage container  1  which is illustrated in  FIG. 1  stores a plurality of substrates W, and is equipped with a container main body  10  and a lid  20 . The substrates W which are stored in the substrate storage container  1  are semiconductor wafers or mask glass having a diameter of 300 mm, for example, but are not limited thereto. 
     The container main body  10  is of a box-like shape that includes an opening frame  10   a  that forms a front opening  11 , a rear wall  10   b , a right wall  10   c , a left wall  10   d , a top wall  10   e , and a bottom wall  10   f . The container main body  10  is that of a so called front open type. 
     A pair of support portions  12  that support the substrates W and a pair of substrate receiving portions  13  are formed in the container main body  10 . Although not illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the other of the pairs of the support portions  12  and the substrate receiving portions  13  are formed at symmetric positions. 
     The support portions  12  are formed at two positions on the interior sides of the right wall  10   c  and the left wall  10   d  so as to face each other (refer to  FIG. 2A  (c)). The support portions  12  are configured by so called groove teeth, and are formed of a plurality of grooves which are formed in a height direction (refer to  FIG. 2B  (d)). The substrates W are inserted and stored in each respective groove. 
     The substrate receiving portions  13  are formed side by side at two positions on the rear wall  10   b  (refer to  FIG. 2A  (c)), and are located more toward the rear wall  10   b  than the support portions  12  (refer to  FIG. 2B  (d)). The substrate receiving portions  13  are also provided with a plurality of grooves that correspond to the number of grooves which are formed in the support portions  12 . 
     Meanwhile, the lid  20  closes the opening  11  of the container main body  10  and forms an internal space of the substrate storage container  1 . In addition, a packing material (not illustrated) is arranged between the container main body  10  and the lid  20 . The packing material secures the airtightness of the substrate storage container  1  when the lid  20  is attached to the container main body  10 , and is capable of reducing entry of dust, moisture, etc. into the substrate storage container  1  from the exterior. 
     The lid  20  has a pressing member  21 , and substrate pressing portions  210  that press the substrates W are formed on the pressing member  21  (refer to  FIG. 2A  (c)). The pressing member  21  is provided at the center in the X axis direction at the interior side of the lid  20 . 
     The substrate pressing portions  210  are formed at two positions along the X axis direction, and press and support the substrates W at these two positions. The substrate pressing portions  210  are formed as arms  220  which have the elasticity of the pressing member  21 , that contact and press the substrates W by the elasticity of the arms  220 . Note that a plurality of substrate pressing portions  210  are formed in the vertical direction according to the number of substrates W which are capable of being stored. 
     Examples of the material of the container main body  10  and the lid  20  include thermoplastic resins such as polycarbonate, cycloolefin polymer, polyether imide, polyether ketone, polyether ether ketone, polybutylene terephthalate, polyacetal, liquid crystal polymer, and alloys thereof. 
     The same material as that of the container main body  10  may be employed as the material of the support portions  12 . Alternatively, in order to improve the sliding properties of the substrates W, an amorphous resin such as cyclic olefin polymer may be employed. 
     The same material as that of the container main body  10  may be employed as the material of the substrate receiving portions  13 . Alternatively, in order to improve the sliding properties of the substrates W, an amorphous resin such as cyclic olefin polymer may be employed. 
     The same material as that of the lid  20  may be employed as the material of the pressing member  21 . Alternatively, a thermoplastic resin such as polycarbonate or an alloy of polycarbonate and polybutylene terephthalate may be used to improve abrasion properties with respect to the substrates W. Additionally an additive may be added to improve sliding properties. 
     Here, a state in which a substrate W is stored in the container main body  10  when the lid  20  is removed from the container main body  10  and a state in which the substrate W is stored in the container main body  10  when the lid  20  is attached to the container main body  10  will be described.  FIG. 3A  is a collection of diagrams that illustrate the container main body  10  when the lid  20  is removed, wherein (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view, and (c) is a cross sectional view taken along line E-E.  FIG. 3B  is a collection of diagrams that illustrate the container main body  10  when the lid  20  is attached, wherein (d) is a cross sectional view taken along line F-F, (e) is a magnified cross sectional view of portion J, and (f) is a magnified cross sectional view of portion K. 
     In the case that the substrate W is to be stored in the container main body  10 , the substrate W is inserted from the opening  11  on the front surface of the container main body  10  into opposing grooves of the pair of support portions  12  at the same height, and is stored in a state in which only the pair of left and right support portions  12  support the substrate W such that the surface of the substrate W is horizontal (refer to  FIG. 3B  (f)). In the state in which the substrate W is supported only by the support portions  12 , the support portions  12  are provided with an inclined stepped portion (not illustrated) such that the side of the substrate W toward the rear wall  10   b  does not contact the substrate receiving portions  13  (beneath the V-shaped groove  130  formed therein). 
     When the lid  20  is attached to the container main body  10  from a state in which the substrate W is supported only by the support portions  12 , the substrate W is sandwiched between the substrate pressing portions  210  and the substrate receiving portions  13 , and the substrate W is lifted from the support portion  12  and is supported by the substrate pressing portions  210  and the substrate receiving portions  13  (refer to  FIG. 2B ). 
     In greater detail, a V shaped groove  211  is formed in each of the substrate pressing portions  210  (refer to  FIG. 2B  (g)), and when the lid  20  is attached to the container main body  10 , the front side of the substrate W is fitted into the V shaped grooves  211  of the substrate pressing portions  210 . Thereafter, when the substrate W is pushed toward the rear side by the substrate pressing portion  210 , the substrate receiving portions  13  move the substrate W from the state which is illustrated in  FIG. 3B  (e) to the state which is illustrated in  FIG. 2B  (e) by the substrate W sliding along the V shaped grooves  130 , and the substrate W reaches the bottom toward the rear side of the V-shaped grooves  130 . 
     The substrate W which is stored in the substrate storage container in this manner is supported by the substrate receiving portions  13  and the substrate pressing portions  210  while being lifted from the support portion  12 . When the lid  20  is removed from the container main body  10 , the substrate W is supported only by the support portions  12 . 
     Next, the positional relationship between the substrate receiving portions  13  and the substrate pressing portions  210  will be described.  FIG. 4  is a horizontal cross sectional view that illustrates a state in which a substrate W is supported in the substrate storage container  1 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the substrate receiving portions  13  and the substrate pressing portions  210  are arranged at positions facing each other. 
     Specifically, the substrate receiving portions  13  are present at least within a range of greater than or equal to 0 mm and less than or equal to 80 mm in the horizontal direction from a vertical (Z axis direction) center line Z that passes through the center C of the container main body  10  when the lid  20  is viewed from the front. Note that the center C of the container main body  10  is a position corresponding to the center of the substrate W when the substrate W is stored in the substrate storage container  1 . In addition, a center line X, a center line Y, and a center line Z are designated as those that pass through the center C of the container main body  10 . 
     In other words, the substrate receiving portions  13  are present at least within a range of greater than or equal to 0 mm and less than or equal to 80 mm in the horizontal direction from the center line Y in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction) that passes through the center C of the container main body  10 . Note that in  FIG. 4 , a position 80 mm away from the center line Y is indicated by a line segment Y 1 . 
     Further, the substrate receiving portions  13  are present within a range of greater than or equal to 20° and less than or equal to 30° in the horizontal direction from the center C of the container main body  10  when the rear wall  10   b  is viewed from the front. That is, an angle γ which is formed by a line segment that connects (the center of) the substrate receiving portions  13  and the center C of the container main body  10 , and the center line Y that passes through the center C of the container main body in the front-rear direction (Y axis direction) is within a range of greater than or equal to ±20° and less than or equal to ±30° with respect to the center line Y. 
     Meanwhile, in a manner similar to the substrate receiving portions  13 , the substrate pressing portions  210  are also present at least within a range of greater than or equal to 0 mm and less than or equal to 80 mm in the vertical direction from the center line Z in the vertical direction (Z axis direction) that passes through the center C of the container main body  10  when the lid  20  is viewed from the front. 
     Further, the substrate pressing portions  210  are present within a range of greater than or equal to 0° and less than or equal to 30°, and preferably a range of greater than or equal to 0° and less than or equal to 21° in the horizontal direction from the center C of the container main body  10  when the lid  20  is viewed from the front. In other words, an angle θ which is formed by a line segment that connects (the center of) the substrate receiving portions  13  and the center C of the container main body  10 , and the center line Y that passes through the center C of the container main body in the front-rear direction (Y axis direction) is within a range of less than or equal to ±30° and preferably less than or equal to ±21° with respect to the center line Y. Note that if the angle θ exceeds 30°, the molding properties of the substrate pressing portions  210  will deteriorate, and it will not be possible to press the substrates W uniformly. 
     According to the substrate storage container  1  of the first embodiment, when the lid  20  is attached to the container main body  10  and the substrate W is supported by being lifted from the support portions  12 , the pressing force from the substrate pressing portions  210  operates mainly toward the center direction of the substrate W at the substrate receiving portions  13 . Therefore, the substrate storage container  1  which is capable of efficiently applying the pressing force from the substrate pressing portions  210  to the substrate receiving portions  13  can be provided. In addition, by lifting and separating the substrate W from the support portions  12 , it is possible to suppress transmission of vibrations, impact, etc. from the support portions  12  to the substrate W during transport. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional diagram in the horizontal direction that illustrates a state in which a substrate W is supported within a substrate storage container  1 A according to a second embodiment. 
     In the substrate storage container  1 A of the second embodiment, the shapes of a lid  20 A, a pressing member  21 A, substrate pressing portions  210 A, and arms  220 A are different from those of the first embodiment, and the other components are the same as those of the first embodiment. 
     Specifically, the distance between the two substrate pressing portions  210 A is longer than that in the first embodiment, and the substrate pressing portions  210 A are formed at both ends of the arch shaped arms  220 A. In addition, the substrate pressing portions  210 A protrude toward the container main body  10  from the surface of the lid  20 A. 
     In this case as well, the substrate pressing portions  210 A are present at least within a range of greater than or equal to 0 mm and less than or equal to 80 mm in the horizontal direction from a vertical (Z axis direction) center line Z that passes through the center C of the container main body  10  when the lid  20  is viewed from the front, in the same manner as the substrate pressing portions  210 . Further, the substrate pressing portions  210  are present within a range of greater than or equal to 0° and less than or equal to 30° in the horizontal direction from the center C of the container main body  10  when the lid  20  is viewed from the front. 
     Note that this substrate storage container  1 A is utilized when a human operator, not a transfer device such as a robot, manually performs attachment or detachment of the lid  20 A or insertion or removal of the substrate W. 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the present invention as recited in the claims. 
     (Modification) 
     In the embodiments which were described above, the positions of the substrate receiving portions  13  and the substrate pressing portions  210  and  210 A are defined by specific dimensions and angles. Alternatively, these positions may be defined by the pressing force (or reaction force) that operates on the substrate W. For example, in the case that it is presumed that the pressing force for pressing the substrate W which is generated when the lid  20  is attached to the container main body  10  is applied in a direction along the Y axis direction, the substrate receiving portions  13  may be present at positions at which a reaction force component CD that presses the substrate W back in a normal direction at the substrate receiving portions (the contact portions thereof with the substrate W) is greater than the reaction force component in the tangential direction of the contact portions, and preferably greater than or equal to 0.43 times greater than the pressing force (in the case where the force is received at two positions in the horizontal direction). In addition, the same may apply to the positions of the substrate pressing portions  210  and  210 A. If the reaction force component CD that pushes back the substrate W in the normal direction at substrate receiving portions  13  is greater than the reaction force component in the tangential direction in this manner, the substrate W will not rotate if the pressing force of the substrate W is applied. 
     In each of the above embodiments, the support portions  12  and the substrate receiving portions  13  may be formed integrally with the container main body  10 , or may be mounted in the container main body  10  as separate components. 
     In each of the above embodiments, the inclination of the V shaped grooves  130  which are formed in the substrate receiving portions  13  and the inclination of the V shaped grooves  211  which are formed in the substrate pressing portions  210  and  210 A are not limited to those which are illustrated in the drawings. These inclinations may be changed according to the sliding properties of the substrate W with respect to the materials which are employed for the substrate pressing portions  210  and  210 A, and the pressing force which is applied by the substrate pressing portions  210  and  210 A to the substrate W. 
     DESCRIPTIONS OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               1 ,  1 A Substrate storage container 
               10  Container Main Body 
               10   a  Opening Frame 
               10   b  Rear Wall 
               10   c  Right Wall 
               10   d  Left Wall 
               10   e  Top Wall 
               10   f  Bottom Wall 
               11  Opening 
               12  Support Portion 
               13  Substrate Receiving Portion 
               20 ,  20   a  Lid 
               21 ,  21   a  Pressing Member 
               210 ,  210   a  Substrate Pressing Portion 
             W Substrate 
             CD Reaction Force Component that presses substrate back in normal direction