Automated material handling system for semiconductor manufacturing based on a combination of vertical carousels and overhead hoists
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An overhead hoist transport vehicle, comprising:
- a moveable platform configured to extend from a retracted position in the vehicle to an unretracted position outside the vehicle, the unretracted position being a distance greater than the width of a material unit laterally from a retracted position along a single axis to a first side of the hoist transport vehicle and to extend a distance greater than the width of the material unit laterally from the retracted position along the single axis to a second side of the hoist transport vehicle;
a hoist mounted to the moveable platform, with the hoist being configured to retract with the moveable platform into the vehicle; and
a gripper coupled to the hoist and configured to grip the material unit;
wherein extension from the retracted position to the unretracted position of the moveable platform causes the gripper to move horizontally along the single axis;
wherein the hoist is configured to move the gripper vertically along a vertical axis to a position directly below the moveable platform in the unretracted position; and
wherein the overhead hoist transport vehicle is configured in the retracted position of the moveable platform to carry a material unit beneath an overhead rail in a semiconductor fabrication plant.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A highly efficient Automated Material Handling System (AMHS) that allows an overhead hoist transport vehicle to load and unload Work-In-Process (WIP) parts directly to/from one or more WIP storage units included in the system. The overhead hoist transport subsystem includes an overhead hoist transport vehicle traveling along a suspended track defining a predetermined route.
163 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. An overhead hoist transport vehicle, comprising:
-
a moveable platform configured to extend from a retracted position in the vehicle to an unretracted position outside the vehicle, the unretracted position being a distance greater than the width of a material unit laterally from a retracted position along a single axis to a first side of the hoist transport vehicle and to extend a distance greater than the width of the material unit laterally from the retracted position along the single axis to a second side of the hoist transport vehicle; a hoist mounted to the moveable platform, with the hoist being configured to retract with the moveable platform into the vehicle; and a gripper coupled to the hoist and configured to grip the material unit; wherein extension from the retracted position to the unretracted position of the moveable platform causes the gripper to move horizontally along the single axis; wherein the hoist is configured to move the gripper vertically along a vertical axis to a position directly below the moveable platform in the unretracted position; and wherein the overhead hoist transport vehicle is configured in the retracted position of the moveable platform to carry a material unit beneath an overhead rail in a semiconductor fabrication plant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An overhead hoist transport (OHT) vehicle comprising:
-
a gripper configured to hold a material unit; a moveable stage coupled to the gripper, wherein the moveable stage is configured to extend from a retracted position in the vehicle to an unretracted position outside the vehicle, and thereby move the gripper along a horizontal axis from a first position beneath an overhead rail to a second position adjacent to a side of the OHT vehicle; and a hoist coupled to the movable stage and to the gripper, with the hoist being configured to retract with the moveable stage into the vehicle, wherein the hoist is configured to move the gripper along a vertical axis to a position that is directly below the moveable stage in the unretracted position; wherein the OHT vehicle is configured in the retracted position of the moveable stage to carry the material unit beneath the overhead rail in a semiconductor fabrication plant; wherein the moveable stage is further configured to extend a distance greater than the width of the material unit laterally from a retracted position along a single axis to a first side of the OHT and to extend a distance greater than the width of a material unit laterally from the retracted position along the single axis to a second side of the OHT vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An Overhead Transport Vehicle (OHT) vehicle comprising:
-
a gripper configured to hold a material unit; a moveable stage coupled to the gripper, wherein the moveable stage is configured to extend from a retracted position in the vehicle to an unretracted position outside the vehicle, and thereby move the gripper along a horizontal axis from a first position beneath an overhead rail to a second position to a side of the OHT vehicle; and a hoist coupled to the movable stage and to the gripper, with the hoist being configured to retract with the moveable stage into the vehicle, wherein the hoist is configured to move the gripper along a vertical axis to a position that is directly below the moveable stage; wherein the OHT vehicle is configured to move the material unit from a starting position to an ending position, wherein the starting position comprises a horizontal starting position and a vertical starting position, and the ending position comprises a horizontal ending position and a vertical ending position; wherein the OHT vehicle is configured to couple to the overhead rail in a semiconductor fabrication plant; wherein the OHT vehicle is configured in the retracted position of the moveable stage to carry the material unit beneath the overhead rail; and wherein the moveable stage is further configured to extend a distance greater than the width of the material unit laterally from a retracted position along a single axis to a first side of the OHT and to extend a distance greater than the width of the material unit laterally from the retracted position along the single axis to a second side of the OHT vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification