Load port device, transport system, and container carrying out method
AssigneeMurata Machinery, Ltd.
InventorTadamasa Tominaga
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A load port device conveys a container including a gas port to an outer conveyor unit by using a ceiling transportation vehicle. The load port device includes a conveyor, a purging device, and a stocker controller. The conveyor extends to the outer conveyor unit. The purging device is arranged near the outer conveyor unit, and includes a gas supply nozzle to supply purge gas into the container while connected to the gas port, and a first lifting mechanism that moves the gas supply nozzle toward or away from a gas supply port. The stocker controller controls the purging device to supply the purge gas into the container, and to stop supplying the purge gas into the container based on an arrival of the ceiling transportation vehicle to the outer conveyor unit.
Claims9
1-8. (canceled)
A load port device for transporting a container including a gas port to a load position where a transportation vehicle loads the container therein, the load port device comprising:
- a transportation conveyor extending to the load position;
- a nozzle mechanism arranged in a vicinity of the load position, the nozzle mechanism including a nozzle configured to supply a purge gas into the container while connected to the gas port, and a moving mechanism configured to move the nozzle toward or away from the gas port;
- and
- a controller configured and programmed to control the nozzle mechanism to supply the purge gas into the container, and to stop supplying the purge gas into the container based on an arrival of the transportation vehicle to the load position.
A container carrying out method performed by a load port device for transporting a container including a gas port to a load position where a transportation vehicle loads the container therein, the load port device including a transportation conveyor extending to the load position, and a nozzle mechanism arranged near the load position, the nozzle mechanism including a nozzle configured to supply purge gas into the container while connected to the gas port and a movement mechanism configured to move the nozzle toward or away from the gas port, the method comprising:
- transporting the container to the load position by the transportation conveyor;
- connecting the nozzle to the gas port of the container at the load position and supplying the purge gas into the container;
- judging that the transportation vehicle arrives at the load port;
- and
- stopping supplying the purge gas into the container based on a result of the step of judging.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.