Abstract:
A substrate shipping container suitable for shipping solar cells, substrate wafers, or other suitable media. In some embodiments, the readily constructed container is made up of two identical container portions, each container portion having a horizontally-disposed base member and two adjacent vertically-disposed side members constructed of impact- absorbing double walls. The two container portions are shaped to be coupled using integrally formed tabs and slots located about the perimeter of the container portions. The horizontally-disposed base member of each container portion is equipped with a matrix of integrally formed pads. These pads serve as cushions to provide shock absorption in the vertical (i.e. "z") direction to substrates that are stacked between these members. Embodiments may further be comprised of molded pulp or bulrush fibers.
Abstract:
A container for creating a microenvironment is disclosed. The container includes a shell (10), a door (90) and a plurality of supports (60) having a unique design which are used to securely retain items, such as silicon wafers (80), in a spaced apart parallel relationship. The supports are removable. An electrical path is provided to ground the supports. Kinematic coupling structures (44-46) are also provided for positioning the container on a surface so as to, for example, properly align the door with the port of a wafer processing tool.
Abstract:
A cassette (10) for storing a plurality of items in a parallel registration is disclosed. The cassette is specifically designed to be lightweight and is reinforced (50, 52, 54) to prevent warpage, bending, flexing or breaking of the cassette. Means (66, 68, 70) for indexing the cassette to a surface for precise insertion and removal of items are also described.
Abstract:
A substrate container (100) includes a receptacle (105) and a cover (110). The receptacle (105) includes a base portion (115) for supporting a substrate and a side wall portion (120) extending upward from the base portion (115). The cover (110) defines a closure over the receptacle (105). In one embodiment, the receptacle (105) includes a first alignment feature (300, 305) located on an exterior surface of the receptacle (105). The first alignment feature (300, 305) interfaces with automation for aligning the receptacle (105). In another embodiment, the cover (110) includes a contoured surface (135) for applying a compressive load to the contents of the substrate container (100).
Abstract:
A substrate shipping container suitable for shipping solar cells, substrate wafers, or other suitable media. In some embodiments, the readily constructed container is made up of two identical container portions, each container portion having a horizontally-disposed base member and two adjacent vertically-disposed side members constructed of impact- absorbing double walls. The two container portions are shaped to be coupled using integrally formed tabs and slots located about the perimeter of the container portions. The horizontally-disposed base member of each container portion is equipped with a matrix of integrally formed pads. These pads serve as cushions to provide shock absorption in the vertical (i.e. "z") direction to substrates that are stacked between these members. Embodiments may further be comprised of molded pulp or bulrush fibers.