Patent ID: 8591163

Claim:
An operating method for a front opening unified pod (FOUP) opener in which a port door is attached detachably to a wafer loading/unloading opening window formed in a port plate for separating a wafer transfer space in a semiconductor processing device from an exterior space, a dock unit carrying a FOUP used to transport a semiconductor wafer through said exterior space is provided, said dock unit positions said FOUP in a FOUP door attachment/detachment position in which an outer surface of a FOUP door attached detachably to an opening portion of a FOUP main body of said FOUP contacts an outer surface of said port door attached to said opening window of said port plate, and a FOUP door fixing member for attaching/detaching said FOUP door and a FOUP door holding member for holding said FOUP door when said FOUP door is removed are disposed on said port door, and a wafer detection sensor is disposed in a central position on an upper surface and a lower surface of an inner peripheral portion of the opening window, a processed semiconductor wafer processed by said semiconductor processing device being loaded into said FOUP main body positioned in said FOUP door attachment/detachment position, said opening window being closed by said port door and said FOUP door being attached to said opening portion of said FOUP main body, said attached FOUP door being fixed to said FOUP main body, a hold exerted on said FOUP door by said port door being released, and said FOUP being then unloaded from said dock unit, said method comprising, between release of said hold on said FOUP door and unloading of said FOUP: a port door withdrawal step of causing said port door closing said opening window in said port plate to retreat in a direction heading away from said FOUP door so that said port door moves to a withdrawn position located a predetermined distance away from a FOUP door hold releasing position; a FOUP door detecting step of determining with a FOUP door detection sensor whether or not said FOUP door of said FOUP positioned in said FOUP door attachment/detachment position is projecting outwardly from a port door side end surface of said FOUP main body; a port door returning step of re-closing said opening window using said port door by moving said withdrawn port door from said withdrawn position back to a position of contact with said FOUP door; and said FOUP door detecting step is a step of determining if said FOUP door is tilting and projecting and incorrectly fixed to said FOUP main body by said FOUP door detection sensor after moving said port door to said withdrawn position.