# US 12,002,693 B2 · Efem > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,002,693 B2 - Document ID: US12002693B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/959,247 - Filed: 2022-10-03 - Published: 2023-03-16 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-15 - Assignees: Sinfonia Technology Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Sinfonia Technology Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Toshihiro Kawai; Gengoro Ogura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12002693B2 ## CPC - H10P 72/0466: {characterised by the construction of the load-lock chamber} - H10P 72/3402: {Mechanical parts of transfer devices} - B01D 46/0041: {for feeding} - H10P 72/0402: {Apparatus for fluid treatment (H10P72/0441, H10P72/0448 take precedence)} - H10P 72/0464: {characterised by the construction of the transfer chamber} - H10P 72/3406: {involving removal of lid, door or cover} - B01D 46/10: Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces - B01D 2273/30: Means for generating a circulation of a fluid in a filtration system, e.g. using a pump or a fan - H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract Particles in an accommodation chamber are also easily discharged while facilitating replacement of an atmosphere in the accommodation chamber with an inert gas. An EFEM includes a load port 4, a housing configured to define, in the housing, a transfer chamber closed by connecting the load port 4 to an opening provided in a partition wall, a supply pipe for supplying nitrogen to a transfer chamber, and a discharge pipe 49 for discharging a gas in the transfer chamber. The load port 4 includes an opening/closing mechanism 54 capable of opening and closing a lid 101 of a mounted FOUP 100, and an accommodation chamber 60 kept in communication with the transfer chamber via a slit 51b and configured to accommodate a part of the opening/closing mechanism 54. The discharge pipe 49 is connected to the accommodation chamber 60 to discharge the gas in the transfer chamber via the accommodation chamber 60. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transfer system comprising: a mounting table configured to mount a container in which a transfer target is accommodated; a housing having an opening in communication with an outside of the housing, and configured to define, in the housing, a transfer chamber for transferring the transfer target; a base configured to close the opening; a gas supplier configured to supply a predetermined gas into the transfer chamber; a gas discharger configured to discharge a gas in the transfer chamber; a pressure gauge configured to measure a pressure in the transfer chamber; and a controller electrically connected to the gas discharger and the pressure gauge, wherein the base includes: a window configured to be capable of moving the transfer target from or to the outside of the housing; an opening/closing mechanism configured to be capable of opening and closing the window; and an accommodation chamber located below the mounting table, and configured to be in communication with the transfer chamber and accommodate a part of the opening/closing mechanism, wherein the gas discharger is directly connected to the accommodation chamber, and is configured to discharge gas from the accommodation chamber to thereby discharge the gas in the transfer chamber via the accommodation chamber, and wherein the controller is configured to control the gas discharger to adjust a discharge flow rate for the gas in the transfer chamber based on the pressure detected by the pressure gauge such that the pressure in the transfer chamber is higher than an external pressure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transfer system of claim 1, wherein the opening/closing mechanism includes a door configured to be capable of closing the window provided in the base and a door driver configured to drive the door, and wherein the transfer system further comprises a slit which is formed in the base such that the transfer chamber and the accommodation chamber are in communication with each other via the slit, and is configured to move the door and the door driver vertically along the slit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The transfer system of claim 2, wherein the door driver includes a support frame extending into the transfer chamber via the slit, and wherein the door driver is configured to move the door in a front-rear direction and an up-down direction with respect to the base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The transfer system of claim 3, wherein the support frame has a first portion extending into the transfer chamber, and a second portion extending from the first portion in the transfer chamber, and wherein the first portion and the second portion intersect perpendicularly to each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The transfer system of claim 2, wherein the accommodation chamber is provided with a fan configured to send the gas in the accommodation chamber to the gas discharger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The transfer system of claim 1, wherein the accommodation chamber is provided with a fan configured to send the gas in the accommodation chamber to the gas discharger. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The transfer system of claim 1, wherein the gas discharger includes a pipe connected to the accommodation chamber and a valve connected to the pipe, and wherein the gas discharger discharges a gas in the accommodation chamber via the pipe and the valve. ### Claim 8 A container opening/closing device, which forms a part of a wall surface of a transfer chamber for transferring a transfer target, and is configured to open and close a lid of a container accommodating the transfer target, comprising: a plate-shaped base installed upright in an up-down direction, and configured to close an opening of the transfer chamber; a mounting table configured to mount the container on the mounting table; a door configured to be capable of closing a window provided in the base; a door driver configured to drive the door; an accommodation chamber configured to accommodate a part of the door driver; a gas discharger configured to discharge a gas in the accommodation chamber; and a slit which is formed in the base such that the transfer chamber and the accommodation chamber are in communication with each other via the slit, and such that the door driver penetrates the base via the slit, wherein the gas in the accommodation chamber is replaced by discharging the gas by the gas discharger, and wherein the gas discharger includes a pipe directly connected to the accommodation chamber and a valve connected to the pipe, and is configured to discharge the gas from the accommodation chamber via the pipe and the valve to thereby discharge the gas in the transfer chamber via the slit and the accommodation chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The container opening/closing device of claim 8, wherein the slit is configured to move the door and the door driver vertically along the slit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The container opening/closing device of claim 9, wherein the accommodation chamber is provided with a fan configured to send the gas in the accommodation chamber to the gas discharger. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The container opening/closing device of claim 9, wherein the door driver includes a support frame extending into the transfer chamber via the slit, and wherein the door driver is configured to move the door in a front-rear direction and an up-down direction with respect to the base. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The container opening/closing device of claim 11, wherein the support frame has a first portion extending into the transfer chamber, and a second portion extending from the first portion in the transfer chamber, and wherein the first portion and the second portion intersect perpendicularly to each other. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The container opening/closing device of claim 8, wherein the accommodation chamber is provided with a fan configured to send the gas in the accommodation chamber to the gas discharger.