Abstract:
An EFEM includes a housing 3 that constitutes a wafer transport chamber 9 that is substantially closed by connecting load ports 4 to an opening 31a provided on a wall 31, and connecting a processing apparatus 6; a wafer transport apparatus 2, and transports a wafer between the processing apparatus 6 and the FOUPs 7 mounted on the load ports 4; a gas delivery port 11; a gas suction port 12; a gas feedback path 10; and a FFU 13 that includes a filter 13b that is provided in the gas delivery port 11, and eliminates particles contained in the delivered gas, wherein the gas in the wafer transport chamber 9 is circulated by generating a downward gasflow in the wafer transport chamber 9 and feeding back the gas through the gas feedback path 10.
Abstract:
The EFEM comprises: a transfer chamber in which a transfer robot is disposed, a first fan that forms a downward air flow in the transfer chamber, a gas return space that circulates the gas flowing downward in the transfer chamber above the first fan, a box that communicates with the transfer chamber and is provided with a gas outlet, and a connecting and disconnecting means configured to switch connection and disconnection of the box to and from the transport chamber. A circulation path in which gas circulates is formed by the transfer chamber, the gas return space, and the box. When the transfer chamber and the box are separated by the connecting and disconnecting means, a shortened circulation path is formed in which the gas circulates without passing through the box.
Abstract:
A wafer stocker capable of further improving an environment around wafers is provided. The wafer stocker includes a housing, a loading device provided on a front surface of the housing, a wafer cassette shelf arranged in the housing, a wafer transfer robot configured to move the wafers from a transfer container mounted on the loading device to a wafer cassette in the wafer cassette shelf, a wafer cassette delivery device configured to move the wafer cassette in the wafer cassette shelf to a stage having a different height, and a fan filter unit configured to generate a laminar flow in a wafer transfer space and in a wafer cassette transfer space.
Abstract:
A conveyance system discriminates the front and back of a frame wafer without human intervention. A frame is partially formed asymmetrically with respect to a predetermined center line when viewed in a direction orthogonal to a surface of a wafer. The conveyance system includes a hand configured to hold the frame so that the frame extends in a predetermined virtual plane, a first sensor configured to detect a portion of the frame held on the hand and located in a predetermined first region in the virtual plane, a second sensor configured to detect a portion of the frame held on the hand and located in a second region opposite to the first region across the center line, and a controller configured to determine the front and back of the frame wafer based on a detection result obtained by the first sensor and a detection result obtained by the second sensor.
Abstract:
To provide a transfer chamber capable of replacing a chemical filter without affecting an internal atmosphere, and shortening or eliminating stop time of a transfer process of a wafer (W) associated with replacement of the chemical filter. The transfer chamber transfers the wafer (W) to or from a processing device (6) by using a transfer robot (2) provided thereinside, and includes a circulation path (CL1) formed inside of a transfer chamber (1) to circulate gas, a chemical filter unit (7) provided in the midstream of the circulation path (CL1), and a connecting and disconnecting means (8) which switches connection and disconnection of the chemical filter unit (7) to and from the circulation path (CL1).
Abstract:
A purging nozzle unit of a gas supply device according to the present invention including: a housing that is capable of passing a predetermined gas so as to replace the internal atmosphere of a FOUP with the predetermined gas; a nozzle coming into intimate contact with the proximity of a port that is provided on one face of the FOUP, the nozzle being pressed to thereby open the port; an operation adjustment space configured to increase or decrease so as to operate the nozzle between a use posture in which the predetermined gas can be supplied into the target container via the port and a standby posture in which the predetermined gas cannot be supplied into the target container via the port; and a gas introducing part configured to export or import compression air relative to the operation adjustment space to thereby control an operation of the nozzle.
Abstract:
A load port including: a base as part of a wall partitioning a transportation space from an external space; an opening provided to the base; a door configured to open and close the opening and securing a lid to, and releasing a lid from, a container containing contents; and a first seal member for sealing the space between the base and the container. At least some of the container-side end surface of the door is located nearer to the transportation space than the container-side end part of the first seal member. The load port can keep a surrounding space clean when a FOUP is connected to a casing.
Abstract:
To provide a transfer chamber capable of replacing a chemical filter without affecting an internal atmosphere, and shortening or eliminating stop time of a transfer process of a wafer (W) associated with replacement of the chemical filter.The transfer chamber transfers the wafer (W) to or from a processing device (6) by using a transfer robot (2) provided thereinside, and includes a circulation path (CL1) formed inside of a transfer chamber (1) to circulate gas, a chemical filter unit (7) provided in the midstream of the circulation path (CL1), and a connecting and disconnecting means (8) which switches connection and disconnection of the chemical filter unit (7) to and from the circulation path (CL1).
Abstract:
There is provided an exhaust nozzle unit capable of discharging a gas atmosphere in a substrate storage container having a loading/unloading opening from the container to an outside of the container through a port formed on a bottom surface of the container. The exhausted nozzle includes a nozzle capable of switching the port from a closed state to an open state by pressing a valve of the port; and a housing configured to hold the nozzle so as to be movable up and down between a use posture in which the port is in the open state and a standby posture in which the port is in the closed state.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an atmosphere replacement apparatus capable of replacing the atmosphere on the surface of a wafer with a small amount of gas. The apparatus is configured to have a cover capable of facing and covering the wafer to be transported, and a gas supply means that supplies gas having properties different from a surrounding atmosphere from the cover, and replaces the atmosphere on the surface of the wafer by the gas.