Front opening ring pod
First Claim
1. A pod for exchanging consumable parts of a process module, comprising:
- a base plate having an outer perimeter defined by a front side, a back side and two lateral sides that extend between the front side and the back side;
a top plate oriented vertically opposite to the base plate, the top plate being substantially parallel to the base plate;
a first pair of support columns, each one of the first pair of support columns is oriented along each of the two lateral sides and disposed proximal to the front side of the base plate, and each one of the first pair of support columns extends between the top plate and the base plate, each one of the first pair of support columns includes a plurality of support fingers distributed lengthwise along the respective support column of the first pair of support columns and faces inward relative to the outer perimeter;
a second pair of support columns, each one of the second pair of support columns is oriented along each of the two lateral sides and disposed proximal to the back side of the base plate, and each one of the second pair of support columns extends between the top plate and the base plate, each one of the second pair of support columns includes a plurality of support fingers distributed lengthwise along the respective support column of the second pair of support columns and faces inward relative to the outer perimeter;
a first hard stop column disposed proximate to a first one of the second pair of support columns;
a second hard stop column disposed proximate to a second one of the second pair of support columns, wherein each of the first and the second hard stop columns extends a length of the second pair of support columns, such that an edge surface of each of the first and the second hard stop columns faces inward relative to the outer perimeter;
a shell structure of the pod is configured to attach to the base plate and enclose the first pair of support columns, the second pair of support columns, the top plate and the first and second hard stop columns, the shell structure having a front opening that is disposed along the front side of the base plate; and
a door is configured to mate with the front opening of the shell structure and the front side of the base plate, the door is configured with a retention assembly that is disposed on an inside surface of the door and extends between the base plate and the top plate, such that consumable parts when disposed in the pod are configured to rest upon the support fingers of the first and second pairs of support columns and the retention assembly secures the consumable parts against the first and second hard stop columns when the door is closed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pod for exchanging consumable parts with a process module includes a base plate having a front side, a back side, and first and second lateral sides. A first support column is disposed on the first lateral side proximal to the front side. A second support column is disposed on the second lateral side proximal to the front side. A third support column is disposed on the first lateral side proximal to back side and a fourth support column is disposed on the second lateral side proximal to the back side. Each of the support columns includes a plurality of support fingers distributed lengthwise and directed inward. A first hard stop column is disposed parallel to the third support column and a second hard stop column is disposed parallel to the fourth support column. A shell structure connected to the base plate is configured to enclose the first, second third and fourth support columns, top plate and first and second hard stop columns and includes a front opening disposed on the front side of the base plate. A door is mated to the front opening and includes retention assembly for securing consumable parts in the pod, when received in the pod.
86 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A pod for exchanging consumable parts of a process module, comprising:
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a base plate having an outer perimeter defined by a front side, a back side and two lateral sides that extend between the front side and the back side; a top plate oriented vertically opposite to the base plate, the top plate being substantially parallel to the base plate; a first pair of support columns, each one of the first pair of support columns is oriented along each of the two lateral sides and disposed proximal to the front side of the base plate, and each one of the first pair of support columns extends between the top plate and the base plate, each one of the first pair of support columns includes a plurality of support fingers distributed lengthwise along the respective support column of the first pair of support columns and faces inward relative to the outer perimeter; a second pair of support columns, each one of the second pair of support columns is oriented along each of the two lateral sides and disposed proximal to the back side of the base plate, and each one of the second pair of support columns extends between the top plate and the base plate, each one of the second pair of support columns includes a plurality of support fingers distributed lengthwise along the respective support column of the second pair of support columns and faces inward relative to the outer perimeter; a first hard stop column disposed proximate to a first one of the second pair of support columns; a second hard stop column disposed proximate to a second one of the second pair of support columns, wherein each of the first and the second hard stop columns extends a length of the second pair of support columns, such that an edge surface of each of the first and the second hard stop columns faces inward relative to the outer perimeter; a shell structure of the pod is configured to attach to the base plate and enclose the first pair of support columns, the second pair of support columns, the top plate and the first and second hard stop columns, the shell structure having a front opening that is disposed along the front side of the base plate; and a door is configured to mate with the front opening of the shell structure and the front side of the base plate, the door is configured with a retention assembly that is disposed on an inside surface of the door and extends between the base plate and the top plate, such that consumable parts when disposed in the pod are configured to rest upon the support fingers of the first and second pairs of support columns and the retention assembly secures the consumable parts against the first and second hard stop columns when the door is closed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A pod for holding consumable parts to be supplied or returned from a process module, the process module is configured to process semiconductor substrates and processing of the semiconductor substrates causes a wear upon the consumable parts, the pod comprising,
a base plate having a front side, a back side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, the first and second lateral sides being oriented opposite one another; -
a first support column disposed proximal to the front side and on the first lateral side; a second support column disposed proximal to the front side and on the second lateral side; a third support column disposed proximal to the back side and on the first lateral side; a fourth support column disposed proximal to the back side and on the second lateral side; a top plate disposed above the base plate and connected to each of the first, second, third and fourth support columns, and each of the first, second, third and fourth support columns including support fingers that are distributed between the base plate and the top plate and oriented toward an inner region of the pod; a first hard stop column disposed parallel to the third support column and a second hard stop column disposed parallel to the fourth support column, such that the first and second hard stop columns are oriented toward the inner region of the pod and extend between the base plate and the top plate; a shell structure configured to enclose the first, second, third and fourth support columns, the top plate and the first and second hard stop columns and connect to the base plate, the shell structure having a front opening disposed proximate to the front side of the base plate; and a door for mating with the front opening of the shell structure, the door having a retention assembly for securing consumable parts in the pod when disposed over select ones of the support fingers, the retention assembly is disposed on an inside surface of the door and extends between the base plate and the top plate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification