Apparatus and method for storing article
AssigneeSemes Co., Ltd.
InventorSungho Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for storing an article, capable of storing at least two types of articles transferred in a semiconductor distribution line, in which the apparatus includes: an article storage rack including a space for storing a first article or a second article; and a variable alignment device installed on the article storage rack, in which at least one first alignment protrusion protrudes outward to align the first article when the first article is seated, and the first alignment protrusion is accommodated inward so that the first alignment protrusion does not interfere with the second article when the second article is seated.
Claims15
An apparatus for storing an article, the apparatus comprising:
- an article storage rack including a space for storing a first article or a second article;
- and
- a variable alignment device installed on the article storage rack,
- wherein the variable alignment device includes at least one first alignment protrusion protrudes outward at a first height to align the first article when the first article is seated,
- wherein the at least one first alignment protrusion is accommodated inward to a second height lower than the first height so that the at least one first alignment protrusion does not interfere with the second article when the second article is seated,
- wherein the variable alignment device further includes:
- a base plate formed on a top surface thereof with at least one second alignment protrusion to align the second article, and including a reception part;
- a movable plate installed in the reception part so as to be freely lifted and lowered, and formed thereon with the at least one first alignment protrusion;
- and
- at least one elastic spring having a restoring force acting in a direction in which the movable plate is lifted, and
- wherein the movable plate includes:
- a movable plate body substantially having a flat plate shape;
- three first alignment protrusions formed on a top surface of the movable plate body, and triangularly arranged to correspond to three alignment grooves formed in a bottom surface of the first article;
- and
- a stopper formed on one side surface of the movable plate body, and protruding in a lateral direction to prevent the movable plate body from being separated from the reception part.
An apparatus for storing an article, the apparatus comprising:
- an article storage rack including a space for storing a first article or a second article;
- and
- a variable alignment device installed on the article storage rack, in which at least one first alignment protrusion protrudes outward at a first height to align the first article when the first article is seated, and the first alignment protrusion is accommodated inward to a second height lower than the first height so that the first alignment protrusion does not interfere with the second article when the second article is seated,
- wherein the variable alignment device includes:
- a base plate formed on a top surface thereof with at least one second alignment protrusion to align the second article, and including a reception part;
- a movable plate installed in the reception part so as to be freely lifted and lowered, and formed thereon with the at least one first alignment protrusion;
- at least one elastic spring having a restoring force acting in a direction in which the movable plate is lifted;
- and
- a fixing plate installed to the base plate while being spaced apart from the base plate by a clearance distance so as to support the at least one elastic spring and allow the movable plate to be lifted and lowered in a separation space, and
- wherein the movable plate includes:
- a movable plate body substantially having a flat plate shape;
- three first alignment protrusions formed on a top surface of the movable plate body, and triangularly arranged to correspond to three alignment grooves formed in a bottom surface of the first article;
- a stopper formed on one side surface of the movable plate body, and protruding in a lateral direction to prevent the movable plate body from being separated from the reception part;
- and
- a guide formed on the top surface of the movable plate body, and having a top surface higher than a top surface of the first alignment protrusion to protect the first alignment protrusion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.