# US 10,501,271 B2 · Load port > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,271 B2 - Document ID: US10501271B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/750,376 - Filed: 2016-07-12 - Published: 2018-08-16 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-04 - Assignees: Sinfonia Technology Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Sinfonia Technology Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Atsushi Suzuki; Yasushi Taniyama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501271B2 ## CPC - B65G 49/00: Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for - H10P 72/0466: {characterised by the construction of the load-lock chamber} - H10P 72/1926: {characterised by the presence of atmosphere modifying elements inside or attached to the closed carrier} - H10P 72/3406: {involving removal of lid, door or cover} - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 ## Abstract A load port including: a base as part of a wall partitioning a transportation space from an external space; an opening provided to the base; a door configured to open and close the opening and securing a lid to, and releasing a lid from, a container containing contents; and a first seal member for sealing the space between the base and the container. At least some of the container-side end surface of the door is located nearer to the transportation space than the container-side end part of the first seal member. The load port can keep a surrounding space clean when a FOUP is connected to a casing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A load port, comprising: a base constituting a part of a wall separating a conveyance space from an external space; an opening portion provided in the base, a door configured to open and close the opening portion and to fix and release a lid member with respect to a container filled with an inert gas and accommodating articles therein; a first seal member for sealing between the base and the container; wherein a container-side end surface of the door is at least partially positioned closer to the conveyance space than a container-side end portion of the first seal member, the load port further comprising clamp units configured to press the container toward the base while the container is attached to the opening portion, the clamp units being provided at two parts on each of both sides of the opening portion, an end surface of the door, which is to face the container, has a recess depressed towards the conveyance space, and the shape of the recess corresponds to an inflated surface of the lid member inflated by increasing the pressure inside the container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The load port according to claim 1, comprising: a second seal member for sealing between the base and the door; a sealed space defined by the base, the first seal member, the second seal member, the lid member, and the door while the container is in contact with the base, and while the door abuts the base via the second seal member, wherein when the container is clamped to the base, the container is moved towards the door from a state in which the door and the lid member are separate from each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The load port according to claim 1, comprising: a second seal member for sealing between the base and the door; a sealed space defined by at least the first seal member, the second seal member, the lid member, and the door while the container is in contact with the opening portion via the first seal member; and a first gas injection unit configured to inject a gas into the sealed space. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The load port according to claim 1, wherein the first gas injection unit configured to inject the gas into the sealed space penetrates the door in a thickness direction and communicates with the sealed space. ### Claim 5 A load port, comprising: a base constituting a part of a wall separating a conveyance space from an external space; an opening portion provided in the base; a door configured to open and close the opening portion and to fix and release a lid member with respect to a container accommodating therein an article; a first seal member for sealing between the base and the container; and a gas nozzle by which gas is supplied from a bottom portion of the container to inside of the container, wherein the gas is injected into the container through the gas nozzle and the lid member of the container is inflated toward the door due to pressure increase, and a container-side end surface of the door is at least partially positioned closer to the conveyance space than a container-side end portion of the first seal member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The load port according to claim 5, wherein the container includes clamp units configured to press the container toward the base while the container is attached to the opening portion, and two or more of the clamp units are provided on each of both sides of the opening portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The load port according to claim 5, comprising: a second seal member for sealing between the base and the door; a sealed space defined by at least the first seal member, the second seal member, the lid member, and the door while the container is in contact with the opening portion via the first seal member; and a first gas injection unit configured to inject a gas into the sealed space. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The load port according to claim 7, wherein the first gas injection unit configured to inject the gas into the sealed space penetrates the door in a thickness direction and communicates with the sealed space.