Conveyor having electrostatic discharge protection structure

• US 20050247545A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toppoly Optoelectronics Corporation (InnoLux Corporation)
• Inventors: Chien, Jung-Huang, Lin, Chin-Yuan, Ni, Hou-Yao, Yeh, Kuang-Chen, Lai, Hung-Te
• Application Number:
  US11/056,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20050247545A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/780
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 13/00 Roller-ways storage devices comprising roller-ways B65G1/02; endless-chain conveyors comprising load-supporting rollers B65G17/00; rollers or arrangements thereof B65G39/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/10 Antistatic features

Abstract

An ESD protection structure, comprising at least one conductive roller. The conductive roller comprises a conductive roller body, and a supporter supporting the conductive roller. The supporter is grounded.

Claims

1. A ESD discharge protection structure, comprising:

an electrically conductive roller body; and

a support, supporting the conductive roller body, wherein the support is electrically conductive and electrically grounded.

2. The ESD discharge protection structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporter is a stainless steel support.

3. The ESD discharge protection structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive support further comprises a conductive rotary connector, wherein the conductive rotary connector includes a rotary body and a connecting element connected to the rotary body, the rotary body is mounted at one end of the supporter and is rotatable on the connecting element, and the connecting element is electrically grounded.

4. The ESD discharge protection structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the conductive rotary connector is a mercury connector.

5. The ESD discharge protection structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive roller body material comprises silicon carbide, silicon molybdenum, graphite, metal carbides, stainless steel or combinations thereof.

6. The ESD discharge protection structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporter comprises an adapter, disposed at one end of the conductive roller body, forming a space between the end of the conductive roller body and a bottom of the adapter.

7. The ESD discharge protection structure as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a conductive elastic member disposed in the space, and the two ends of the conductive elastic member respectively contact to the conductive roller body and the adapter.

8. The ESD discharging protection structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the conductive elastic member is a metal spring.

9. The ESD discharging protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape of the electrically conductive roller body is jagged or uneven.

10. An apparatus, for operating a heating process to at least one substrate, wherein the apparatus comprises the ESD discharging protection structure as claimed in claim 1.

11. A method of abating ESD in a conveying system, comprising:

providing an electrically conductive roller;

supporting the electrically conductive roller with supports, wherein at least one support is electrically conductive; and

grounding said conductive support.