Contaminant containing apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus for use within a controlled environment, the apparatus having an enclosure, an air filter, and an air flow generator. The enclosure includes an interior region for receiving an article and performing contaminant generating operations. The air filter receives contaminated air from the enclosure and outputs air substantially free of contaminants. The air flow generator can be sealably disposed between the enclosure and the air filter for establishing an air flow into the enclosure interior region from the controlled environment and out of the air filter into the controlled environment.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates generally to manufacturing processes and, more particularly, to a contaminant containing apparatus and method that facilitates the use of contaminant producing processes within a controlled environment including a clean room. BACKGROUND [0002] Processes performed within a clean room environment can be especially susceptible to airborne contaminants. In the past, when a particular process includes the possibility of introducing contamination to the controlled environment, it has been desirable to remove the article from the controlled environment in order to perform the potentially contaminating process. The article is then reintroduced to the controlled environment once the potentially contaminating process is completed. Removing and reintroducing the article can cause significant disruption to the manufacturing process as well as costly delays. Transporting the work piece into and out of the controlled environment can add additio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] In a controlled environment such as a clean room, when a contaminant producing operation upon an article is desired, the article within the clean room is typically sealed within a bag or other sealable container, an inspection is performed, and the article within the sealed bag is transferred out of clean room. The contaminant producing operation is then performed on the article outside the clean room environment. Once the contaminant producing operation is completed, a reverse process of re-packaging, re-inspecting, and transferring the processed article into the clean room is typically performed. These non-value-added operations, as a result of performing the contaminant producing operation outside the controlled environment, can significantly increase the cost to produce the final product. In keeping with embodiments of the present invention, such costly and time-consuming non-value-added operations are avoided.

[0009] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method is disclosed of performing a contaminant generating operation within a controlled environment while preserving the controlled environment substantially free of contaminants. The method includes establishing an air flow into an enclosure for receiving an article of manufacture within the controlled environment, positioning an article of manufacture within the enclosure, performing a contaminant generating operation on the article within the enclosure, filtering contaminants from the air within the enclosure, and outputting the filtered air into the controlled environment. The established air flow within the enclosure is sufficient to prevent the escape of contaminants from within the enclosure to the controlled environment. The filtering method can include generating an air flow through the enclosure to carry airborne contaminants, and removing the airborne contaminants carried by the air flow to yield substantially contaminant free air in accordance with a standard of cleanliness such as a clean room specification or other guideline.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, the method includes illuminating the interior region of the enclosure with a light source which can be a black light or a white light. The method can further include surrounding a predetermined portion of the enclosure with a light blocking member to prevent illumination of the interior portion of the enclosure from a source other than the enclosure light source.

Problems solved by technology

These non-value-added operations, as a result of performing the contaminant producing operation outside the controlled environment, can significantly increase the cost to produce the final product.

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