Method and apparatus for aligning a cassette handler

An apparatus for aligning a cassette handler to a movable robot blade for carrying a workpiece in a workpiece handling system, wherein the robot blade defines a blade aperture means and wherein the cassette handler has a support surface for supporting a workpiece cassette, the apparatus comprising:

• an alignment member;
• and
• a frame adapted to be supported by the cassette handler support surface, the frame defining a frame aperture means adapted to receive the alignment member;
• wherein the blade aperture means is adapted to receive the alignment member when the robot blade is positioned in a first predetermined position and when the alignment member is received by the frame aperture means;
• and
• wherein the blade aperture means is further adapted to receive the alignment member when the robot blade is positioned in a second predetermined position and when the alignment member is received by the frame aperture means.

An apparatus for aligning a cassette handler to a movable robot blade for carrying a workpiece in a workpiece handling system wherein the cassette handler has a support surface for supporting a workpiece cassette, and wherein the robot blade defines a blade aperture means, the apparatus comprising:

• a light source means;
• a frame adapted to be supported by the cassette handler support surface, the frame defining a frame aperture means adapted to permit the passage of light from the light source means through the frame aperture means;
• and
• a light detector means adapted to detect the passage of light from the light source means through the frame aperture means and the blade aperture means when the robot blade is positioned in a first predetermined position.

A method of aligning a cassette handler to a movable robot blade for carrying a workpiece in a workpiece handling system wherein the cassette handler has a support surface for supporting a workpiece cassette having a plurality of slots for carrying workpieces, the method comprising:

• placing a frame on the cassette handler support surface in a first orientation of the frame relative to the handler support surface, the frame having a first frame alignment surface defining a first predetermined robot blade position, the first frame alignment surface being adapted to receive an alignment member;
• positioning the robot blade in a first location relative to the frame at a first height of the blade relative to the handler support surface wherein the robot blade has a blade alignment surface adapted to receive the alignment member;
• and
• conducting a first test of the alignment of the robot blade relative to the frame, the first test comprising placing the alignment member in engagement with at least one of the first frame alignment surface and the blade alignment surface;
• wherein the robot blade is positioned in the first predetermined robot blade position at the first height when the alignment member is received by both the first frame alignment surface and the robot blade alignment surface.

A method of aligning a cassette handler to a movable robot blade for carrying a workpiece in a workpiece handling system wherein the cassette handler has a support surface for supporting a workpiece cassette having a plurality of slots for carrying workpieces and wherein the support surface has an axis of rotation extending orthogonally from the support surface, the method comprising:

• placing a frame on the cassette handler support surface, the frame having a first frame aperture and a second frame aperture, the first frame aperture defining a first predetermined robot blade position, the second frame aperture defining a second predetermined robot blade position, both the first and second frame apertures being adapted to receive an alignment member;
• positioning the robot blade in a first location relative to the frame at a first height of the blade relative to the handler support surface wherein the robot blade has a blade aperture adapted to receive the alignment member;
• conducting a first test of the alignment of the robot blade relative to the frame, the first test comprising placing the alignment member into at least one of the first frame aperture and the blade aperture;
• wherein the robot blade is positioned in the first predetermined robot blade position at the first height when the alignment member is received by both the first frame aperture and the robot blade aperture;
• positioning the robot blade in a second location relative to the frame;
• rotating the cassette handler support surface about the support surface axis of rotation;
• and
• conducting a second test of the alignment of the robot blade relative to the frame, the second test comprising placing the alignment member into at least one of the second frame aperture and the blade aperture;
• wherein the robot blade is positioned in the second predetermined robot blade position when the alignment member is received by both the second frame aperture and the robot blade aperture.