Interbay transfer interface between an automated material handling system and a stocker
AssigneeTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
InventorsLi-Ren Lin, Cheng-Chang Chang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interbay transfer interface between an automated material handling system and a stocker which includes a conveyor belt positioned juxtaposed to the stocker, a plurality of open-top containers positioned on the conveyor belt, at least two locating pins situated on the conveyor belt for engaging the containers, a wave emitting/receiving device positioned immediately adjacent to the conveyor belt, and a controller for receiving signals from the wave emitting/receiving device and sensors mounted on the locating pins.
Claims16
An interbay transfer interface between an automated material handling system (AMHS) and a stocker comprising:
- a conveyor belt positioned juxtaposed to input/output ports of a first and a second stocker capable of moving an object therein between;
- a plurality of containers positioned on and carried by said conveyor belt, each of said plurality of containers further comprises:
- an open top for receiving said object from said AMHS therein;
- an aperture in each of two opposing sidewalls forming a light passageway perpendicular to said conveyor belt, said aperture being formed in said sidewall;
- and
- at least two apertures in a bottom wall of said container for penetrating by at least two locating pins on said conveyor belt;
- at least two locating pins situated on said conveyor belt for engaging said at least two apertures in said bottom wall of the container, said locating pins further comprises sensors for sensing the presence of a container placed on top;
- a wave emitting/receiving device positioned juxtaposed to said conveyor belt for sending a wave through said apertures in said opposing sidewalls of the container for sensing the presence or absence of an object in said container;
- a controller for receiving signals from said wave emitting/receiving device and said sensors on said locating pins and for indicating a full/empty status of said container.
A method for the interbay transfer of an object between an AMHS and a stocker by the steps of:
- positioning a conveyor belt juxtaposed to input/output ports of a first and a second stocker capable of moving an object therein between;
- positioning and carrying a plurality of containers on and by said conveyor belt, each of said plurality of containers further comprises:
- an open top for receiving said object from said AMHS therein;
- an aperture in each of two opposing sidewalls forming a light passageway perpendicular to said conveyor belt, said aperture being formed in said sidewall;
- and
- at least two apertures in a bottom wall of said container for penetrating by at least two locating pins on said conveyor belt;
- providing at least two locating pins on said conveyor belt and engaging said at least two apertures in said bottom wall of the container, said locating pins further comprises sensors for sensing the presence of a container placed on top;
- sending a wave by a wave emitting/receiving device positioned juxtaposed to said conveyor belt through said apertures in said opposing sidewalls of the container and sensing the presence or absence of an object in said container;
- sending signals to a controller from said wave emitting/receiving device and said sensors on said locating pins indicating a full/empty status of said container;
- and
- conveying said object in said container from said first stocker to said second stocker.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.