Tracking cart system

• US 6,113,341 A
• Filed: 10/22/1998
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Original Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Inventors: Fukushima, Masazumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US09/177,116
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 414/663, 414/664, 414/665, 414/666, 414/626, 414/940, 212/276, 212/319
• US Class Current: 414/663
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67724 by means of a cart or a vehicule
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67733 Overhead conveying
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67736 Loading to or unloading from a conveyor

Abstract

A traveling rail 8 is provided in a clean room at slightly above head height, and arms 44, 46 placed atop one another and a fork 56 are used to allow a tracking cart to travel along the rail to load a workpiece 20. A fork elevating section 54 is provided at the tip of the lower arm 46 to elevate and lower the fork 56. A loop can be constructed without obstructing personnel in the area and faster loading times can be obtained.

Claims

1. A tracking cart system, comprising

a traveling rail provided at a level higher than that of a loading station;

a tracking cart suspended from said traveling rail; and

loading means for loading a workpiece by moving within a horizontal plane, said loading means being provided under said tracking cart,

wherein said loading means includes a fork elevation section which moves forward and backward nearly perpendicularly to said traveling rail and a fork mounted on said fork elevation section so as to be lowered and raised by said fork elevation section.

2. The tracking cart system as recited in claim 1, wherein said tracking cart has a built-in clean fan unit for sucking dust from said loading means, and wherein said loading means is provided under said clean fan unit.

3. The tracking cart system as recited in claim 2, further comprising means for detecting an obstacle under said traveling rail to prohibit the approach of said tracking cart when an obstacle is detected.