Abstract:
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.

Description:
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. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1 , is a lateral view in partial section of a device for loading and unloading substrates into or from a clean room in accordance with a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, 
       FIG. 2 , is a plan view along the line II—II in  FIG. 1  in a partial broken representation. 
       FIG. 3 , is a plan view in partial section in accordance with the arrow III in  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 4 , is a view from above in accordance with the arrow IV in  FIG. 1 , but without the transport box, and 
       FIG. 5 , is a section along the line V—V in  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In accordance with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the device  10  for loading and unloading substrates  11  into or from a clean room  12  has a lock device  14 , which holds or receives a transport box  13  with the substrates  11 , for transferring or receiving the substrates  11  to or from a processing installation  16 , which forms the clean room  12  and has, in a manner not represented, a manipulating device for receiving or transferring the substrates  11  from or to the transport box  13 . 
   The device  10  has an adapter device  20 , which is arranged between the lock device  14  and the processing installation  16 , for the vertical and horizontal adjustment of the lock device  14  with respect to the processing installation  16 , independently of their possibly not exactly vertically and/or horizontally aligned positions. The adapter device  20  has a base plate  25 , which is provided with an upper opening  24  and a lower opening  23 . The base plate  25  rests adjustably on a strip  26 , which is fixed in place and here is a part of the processing installation  16 , and on which two vertical forcing screws  27 , which are provided with spherical rollers  22 , are supported and are held at a distance from an angle element  21  of the base plate, and can be vertically screwed in or out. The base plate  25  can be displaced on the strip  26  in 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 screws  27 , the base plate  25  can also be moved in the vertical Z-direction and can be inclined with respect to it. In an upper and a lower area  22  and  23 , the base plate  25  is provided with forcing screws  29 , 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 installation  16 . An alignment of the base plate  25  with respect to the processing installation  16  can take place by adjusting each one of the forcing screws  29 , wherein a pivot movement of the base plate  25  with respect to the X- and/or the Y-axes is possible. 
   The base plate  25  has bores  33  of large diameter near the forcing screws  29 , through which fastening screws  34  of smaller diameter pass, which can be screwed into threaded bores  36  of an adjoining part of the processing installation  16 , and whose head is supported on a washer  37  ( FIG. 4 ). Because of this, an adjustment, for example in the mm range, is possible, and the position of the adapter device  20 , which is adjusted in respect to the processing installation  16 , can be fixed in place. 
   Here, the base plate  25  of the adapter device  20  is equipped with indexing pins  32  and threaded bores  42 , for example four. A vertical base plate  40  of the lock device  14  has bores  41  in a corresponding bore pattern for the essentially play-free receipt of the indexing pins  32  and screws  35  for screwing into the threaded bore  42 . 
   Because of the adjustment of the adapter device  20  with respect to the processing installation  16 , and the releasably pluggable connection with the lock device  14 , it is possible without any further adjustment measures to replace the lock device  14  with another lock device, which is provided with the same bore pattern on its base plate  40 . Here, the base plate  40  and the base plate  25  lie flat against each other. 
   In accordance with  FIG. 1 , the lock device  14  has a housing  43 , whose front is closed off by the base plate  40 , which extends past the top of the housing  43 . The upper cover of the housing  43  is formed by a support plate  44 , above which a receiving table  45  for the transport box  13  is held. In a manner still to be described, the receiving table  45  can be moved back and forth with respect to the vertical base plate  40  and can be docked against the latter with the transport box  13 . 
   The base plate  40  has a lock window  46 , which is aligned with the coaxial opening  24  of the base plate  25 , both of which can be closed by means of a lock door  47 . The transport box  13  has an opening  48  coaxially with the lock window  46 , which can be hermetically sealed by means of a cover  49 . The transport box  13  is displaced toward the base plate  40  for receiving or transferring the substrates  11  from or to the transport box  13 . In a manner yet to be described, the cover  49  is unlocked from the transport box  13  with the aid of the lock door  47 , is removed and connected with the lock door  47 . Once the lock door  47  with the cover  49  is moved out of the area of the lock window  46 , the substrates  11  can be removed from the transport box  13  with the aid of the manipulation device, not represented, and brought to the processing installation  16  (into the clean room  12 ), or vice versa. It is understood that, following the loading of the transport box  13 , the cover  49  is connected with the transport box  13  in a correspondingly reverse manner for the hermetic sealing of the opening  48  of the latter, and is unlocked from the lock door  47  and removed. 
   All drive and transfer elements necessary for the movement of the receiving table  45  and the lock door  47  are arranged inside the housing  43  of the lock device  14 . A gear motor, not represented, is flanged to the underside or inside of the support plate  44  and is connected via a crank gear  52  with the receiving table  45  for moving the latter horizontally back and forth. For this purpose the crank gear  52  has a crank roller, which engages a lower circular groove of the receiving table  45 , so that the receiving table  45  can be moved along rails. 
   A threaded spindle  57  is seated in the support plate  44 , which extends vertically downward and can be driven at its bottom by a gear motor  58 . A carriage housing  59  can be moved up and down along the threaded spindle  57  via a nut  61 . The carriage housing  59 , open toward the base plate  40 , receives the horizontal portion of an L-shaped arm  62 , on whose vertical arm end the lock door is fastened. Facing away from the nut  61 , the carriage housing  59  has a carriage  63 , which is guided, vertically displaceable, along a vertical guide  64 , which is held on the base plate  40 . The end of the horizontal portion of the L-shaped are  62 , which passes through the opening  23  of the base plate  25  and an opening  39  of the base plate  40 , is embodied as a carriage  65 , which is guided, horizontally displaceable back and forth, on a horizontal guide  66  of the carriage housing  59 . The horizontal displacement of the L-shaped arm  62  takes place by means of a gear motor  67  flanged to the carriage housing  59 , which drives a crank gear  68 , whose crank roller loosely engages a circular groove of the carriage portion  65  of the L-shaped arm  62 . In this way the lock door  47  is horizontally moved toward and away from the lock window  46  or the opening  24  with the aid of the gear motor  67 , while the L-shaped arm  62 , and therefore the lock door  47 , can be moved with the aid of the gear motor  58  in the vertical direction out of or into the area of the lock window  46 . 
   In accordance with  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , the lock device  14  has a roller track  75  in the area of the receiving table  45 , which has parallel roller strips  77  equipped with rollers  76  on both longitudinal sides of the receiving table  45 . The two roller strips  77  are rigidly connected with each other by means of an arched U-shaped rail  78 . In a center area between the two roller strips  77 , the U-shaped rail  78  is fixedly connected with the upper end of an angular lever  79 , whose vertical portion is conducted through the support plate  44 , and whose lower horizontal return portion supports a bearing bushing  81  on its free end, through which a vertical shaft  82  is passed. The support plate  44  is provided with a semicircular recess  83 , which the lever  79  penetrates and whose radius corresponds to the pivot radius of the lever  79  around the shaft  82 . The shaft  82  receiving the bearing bushing  81  is guided up and down in the vertical direction on a stationary guide  84 . The pivot movement and the vertical up and down movement of the lever  79  are performed, partially not represented, by means of a motor. The lifting motion of the roller track  75  is for example provided by the already mentioned arrangement of the gear motor  71  and the crank gear  72 . By means of the pivot movement of the lever  79  around the shaft  82 , the roller track  75  can be brought out of a position oriented toward the base plate  40  or the lock window  46  into a position moved in one or the other pivot direction by 90°. In this way a transport box  13  can be brought horizontally on the roller track  75  from three directions, which are located vertically in respect to each other, or any arbitrary positions between these. The roller strips  77  of the roller track  75  have vertically upward extending insertion slopes  86 , for example in each of two distanced areas, which make the placement of a transport box  13  on the roller track  75  from above possible. By depositing or rolling a transport box up on the roller track  75 , pre-positioning of the transport box in respect to the receiving table  45  has been achieved. 
   Because of the guide  84  for the shaft  82 , the roller track  75  can be raised or lowered with respect to the receiving table  45 . In the raised position ( FIG. 1 ), a transport box  13  is placed on the roller track  75  or moved away from it or lifted off. In the lowered position ( FIG. 3 ), Fixation pins  87  provided on the receiving table  45  and arranged at a distance from each other engage corresponding blind receiver bores  88  on the underside of the transport box  13 , so that the exact positioning of the transport box  13  on the receiving table  45  is achieved. In the exemplary embodiment represented, there are three fixation pins  87  arranged in a triangle, for example. 
   The two roller strips  77  of the roller track  75  are provided with a slight descending slope in such a way that an inclination in respect to the docking or loading level  89  is achieved, wherein one or both roller strips  77  are provided with a stop  90  on this end. 
     FIG. 5  shows the locking mechanism for or of the cover  49  with the transport box  13 . Two spaced apart T-shaped keys  91  are pivotably maintained on respective stationary shafts  92 . They are driven by a gear motor  93 , which is connected with a worm wheel  96  via a coupling  94  and a worm shaft  95 . A clutch disk  97  is frictionally connected with the worm wheel  96  and is connected, fixed against relative rotation, with a first crank lever  98 , which is connected via a hinged rod  99  with a second crank lever  98 ′. A parallelogram gear is achieved in this way. The movement of the hinged rod  99  is limited by stops  100  and  100 ′, which are equipped with limit switches. The hinged rod  99  has a lever shoulder  101  approximately at the center, which is laterally conducted toward the outside of the cover  49  and 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 shoulder  101  is conducted through a lateral opening of the lock door  47 , and it can be actuated via a bolt  102  connected with it. It can be seen that this locking mechanism is arranged inside the lock door  47 , so that it is axially connected with or released from the keys  91  when the cover  49  is set down or lifted.