Substrate storage cassette and holding structure

Abstract

A substrate storage box includes a box body, a front door plate, and a plurality of holding structures. The box body has upper and lower opposite top and bottom walls, and two side walls and a rear wall connected between the top and bottom walls, which collectively define a receiving space having a front opening and for storing the substrates. The front door plate is configured to be disposed at the front opening of the box body. The holding structures are disposed at the front door plate and the rear wall of the box body and are configured to hold positions of the substrates, each of the holding structures having a setting portion disposed at the front door plate or the rear wall of the box body, a holding portion facing the receiving space, and a resilient connecting arm connected between the setting portion and the holding portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a storage box, and more particularly to a substrate storage box and its holding structure. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, glass substrates have been widely used in various fields. These glass substrates are usually stored and transported in a one-to-many manner through substrate storage boxes. However, due to the large weight and fragility of glass substrates, it is worthwhile to study in depth how to avoid damage to glass substrates due to vibration or collision during transportation. Summary of the Invention

[0003] One object of the present invention is to provide a substrate storage box and holding structure that can improve at least one problem in the prior art.

[0004] In some embodiments, the substrate storage box of the present invention includes a box body, a front door panel, and a plurality of retaining structures. The box body has a top wall and a bottom wall opposite each other, and two side walls and a rear wall connected between the top wall and the bottom wall. The top wall, the bottom wall, the two side walls, and the rear wall together define an accommodating space with a front opening for storing the substrates. The front door panel is provided at the front opening of the box body. The retaining structures are provided on the front door panel and the rear wall of the box body and are used to retain the position of the substrates. Each retaining structure has a mounting portion provided on the front door panel or the rear wall of the box body, a retaining portion facing the accommodating space, and an elastic connecting arm connecting the mounting portion and the retaining portion.

[0005] In some embodiments, the resilient connecting arm is S-shaped and has two bends.

[0006] In some embodiments, each of the retaining structures has a plurality of the said elastic connecting arms, and each of the retaining structures also has a plurality of cutouts located between adjacent elastic connecting arms.

[0007] In some embodiments, the retaining portion of each retaining structure is in the shape of a straight, elongated plate.

[0008] In some embodiments, the retaining portion of each retaining structure is a V-shaped long column with a V-shaped cross-section.

[0009] In some embodiments, the retaining portion of each retaining structure is a U-shaped long column with a U-shaped cross-section.

[0010] In some embodiments, the mounting portion has at least one mounting plate for mounting on a mounting structure constructed on the housing or the front door panel. The mounting plate has a first side edge and a second side edge, a positioning groove formed on the first side edge, and two tenon grooves formed on the second side edge. The mounting structure has a positioning hook for engaging with the positioning groove and for positioning the first side edge, two tenon protrusions for tenoning into the two tenon grooves, and a positioning protrusion for positioning the second side edge.

[0011] The present invention provides a holding structure for use in a substrate storage box to hold a plurality of substrates within the substrate storage box. The holding structure has a mounting portion disposed on the front door panel or the rear wall of the substrate storage box, a holding portion facing the accommodating space of the box, and an elastic connecting arm connecting the mounting portion and the holding portion.

[0012] In some embodiments, the resilient connecting arm is S-shaped and has two bends.

[0013] In some embodiments, the retaining structure has a plurality of the elastic connecting arms, and the retaining structure also has a plurality of cutouts located between adjacent elastic connecting arms.

[0014] In some embodiments, the retaining portion of the retaining structure is in the shape of a flat, elongated plate.

[0015] In some embodiments, the retaining portion of the retaining structure is a V-shaped long column with a V-shaped cross-section.

[0016] In some embodiments, the retaining portion of the retaining structure is a U-shaped long column with a U-shaped cross-section.

[0017] In some embodiments, the mounting portion has at least one mounting plate for mounting on a mounting structure constructed on the housing or the front door panel. The mounting plate has a first side edge and a second side edge, a positioning groove formed on the first side edge, and two tenon grooves formed on the second side edge. The mounting structure has a positioning hook for engaging with the positioning groove and for positioning the first side edge, two tenon protrusions for tenoning into the two tenon grooves, and a positioning protrusion for positioning the second side edge.

[0018] The present invention, through holding structures having elastic connecting arms for the substrates to abut against, can maintain the position of the substrates and reduce the vibration of the substrates, thus preventing damage to the substrates due to vibration or collision during transportation. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0020] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the substrate storage box of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment containing the substrate;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a front view of the first embodiment, in which a portion of the structure of a front door panel of the first embodiment is omitted to show a locking unit of the first embodiment;

[0023] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the first embodiment, in which the front door panel of the first embodiment is flipped back and forth;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the plurality of retaining structures of the first embodiment;

[0025] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the substrate storage box of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 7 This is an exploded perspective view of the substrate stored in the second embodiment;

[0027] Figure 8 This is an exploded view of the second embodiment, in which the front door panel of the second embodiment is flipped back and forth;

[0028] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the retaining structures of the second embodiment;

[0029] Figure 10 This is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the substrate storage box of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 11 This is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the substrate storage box of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 12 This is a front view of the fourth embodiment, in which part of the structure of the front door panel of the fourth embodiment is omitted to show the bolting unit of the fourth embodiment;

[0032] Figure 13 This is an exploded view of the fourth embodiment, in which the front door panel of the fourth embodiment is flipped back and forth;

[0033] Figure 14 This is a perspective view of the retaining structures of the fourth embodiment;

[0034] Figure 15 This is an exploded schematic diagram of a fifth embodiment of the substrate storage box of the present invention, in which the front door panel of the fourth embodiment is flipped back and forth;

[0035] Figure 16 This is a perspective view of the retaining structures of the fifth embodiment;

[0036] Figure 17 This is a perspective view of one of the retaining structures provided on a rear wall of a box body according to the fifth embodiment;

[0037] Figure 18 This is a top view of one of the retaining structures and the substrate in the fifth embodiment.

[0038] Figure 19 This is a top view of a holding structure and a substrate, according to a sixth embodiment of the substrate storage box of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 20 This is a perspective view of two of the retention structures and the front door panel of a variant embodiment of the substrate storage box of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 21 Therefore Figure 20 A basic exploded diagram of a solid. Detailed Implementation

[0041] Before the invention is described in detail, it should be noted that similar components are represented by the same numbers in the following description.

[0042] See Figures 1 to 5 A first embodiment of the substrate storage box 100 of the present invention is used to store multiple substrates 200. These substrates 200 may, for example, be glass substrates. In practical applications, the substrates 200 may also be fixed in a metal frame (not shown) before being stored in the substrate storage box 100. The substrate storage box 100 includes a box body 1, a front door panel 2, a locking unit 3, a handling and gripping structure 4, two top handles 5, and a bottom reinforcing plate.

[0043] 6. Multiple retaining structures 7, and two side handles 8. For example, the substrate storage box 100 is made of high-strength, high-rigidity material (HPC) as the main material and CFRP as the reinforcing material.

[0044] The housing 1 has a top wall 11 and a bottom wall 12 that are vertically opposed along a vertical direction D1, two side walls 13 and a rear wall 14 connected between the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 12, two side plates 13' connected between the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 12 and located between the two side walls, and a plurality of side support portions 15 formed on the inner side of the two side plates 13'. The two side walls 13 are opposite each other along a left-right direction D2, and the rear wall 14 is located opposite each other in a front-back direction D3. The top wall 11, the bottom wall 12, the two side walls 13 and the rear wall 14 together define an accommodating space 16 having a front opening 161 for storing the substrates 200. The side support portions 15 are arranged along the vertical direction D1 in the accommodating space 16 and are used to support the substrates 200. The top wall 11 may be provided with a plurality of top reinforcing ribs 111 made of CFRP as reinforcing material.

[0045] The front door panel 2 is provided at the front opening 161 of the housing 1. The front door panel 2 has two return air grooves 21 arranged at intervals along the left-right direction D2, facing rearwards toward the accommodating space 16, and a plurality of polished suction cup adsorption areas 22 facing forwards away from the accommodating space 16. These suction cup adsorption areas 22 are used by a robotic arm (not shown) to automatically remove the front door panel 2. In this first embodiment, the suction cup adsorption areas 22 are polished and enlarged to enhance the adsorption force between the suction cup and the adsorption area.

[0046] The locking unit 3 is disposed between the housing 1 and the front door panel 2, and is used to lock the front door panel 2 to the housing 1. In this first embodiment, the locking unit 3 has a plurality of locking sliders 31 disposed on the front door panel 2, a plurality of operating members 32 disposed on the front door panel 2 for controlling the locking sliders 31, and a plurality of locking grooves 33 formed on the housing 1 and corresponding to the locking sliders 31. By operating the operating members 32, the locking sliders 31 can be inserted into the locking grooves 33 to achieve the purpose of locking the front door panel 2 to the housing 1. In this first embodiment, there are eight locking sliders 31 and eight locking grooves 33, and four operating members 32. The operating members 32 and the locking sliders 31 are controlled in a one-to-two manner, but this is not a limitation.

[0047] The handling gripping structure 4 is disposed on the top wall 11 of the box body 1 and has a handling reinforcing rib 41. In this first embodiment, the handling gripping structure 4 is square, and the handling reinforcing rib 41 is integrally formed on the top of the handling gripping structure 4 near the front side and is made of CFRP material.

[0048] The two top handles 5 are located on the top wall 11 of the box body 1 and are for people to grip. Specifically, the two top handles 5 are made of high strength and high rigidity material (HPC), and the structure is strengthened by widening and increasing curvature to reduce deformation.

[0049] The bottom reinforcing plate 6 is provided on the bottom wall 12 of the box body 1 and has a plurality of bottom reinforcing ribs 61, which are made of CFRP material.

[0050] The retaining structures 7 are disposed on the rear side of the front door panel 2 and the front side of the rear wall 14 of the housing 1, and are used to maintain the position of the substrates 200 in the front-rear direction D3 and reduce the vibration of the substrates 200. In this first embodiment, there are four retaining structures 7 extending vertically, with two retaining structures 7 disposed on the front door panel 2 and the other two retaining structures 7 disposed on the rear wall 14. In detail, each retaining structure 7 has a mounting portion 71 disposed on the front door panel 2 or the rear wall 14 of the housing 1, a retaining portion 72 facing the accommodating space 16 and for the substrates 200 (or the metal frame) to abut against, a plurality of elastic connecting arms 73 connecting the mounting portion 71 and the retaining portion 72, and a plurality of cutout portions 74 located between adjacent elastic connecting arms 73. Each elastic connecting arm 73 is, for example, S-shaped and has two bends 731. In this first embodiment, the holding portion 72 is in the shape of a flat, elongated plate. By means of the holding structure 7 having an elastic connecting arm 73 and for the substrates 200 (or the metal frame) to abut against, the position of the substrates 200 in the front-rear direction D3 can be maintained and the vibration of the substrates 200 can be reduced, thus preventing the substrates 200 from being damaged by vibration or collision during transportation.

[0051] The two side handles 8 are located on the outer sides of the two side walls 13 of the box body 1. One end of the two side handles 8 is connected to the two side walls 13 of the box body 1 near the top wall 11, and the other end is connected to the bottom reinforcing plate 6.

[0052] See Figures 6 to 9 The difference between a second embodiment of the substrate storage box 100 of the present invention and the first embodiment is that, in this second embodiment, the box body 1 does not have a side plate 13' (see...). Figure 4The side support portion 15 for supporting the substrates 200 is formed directly inside the two side walls 13. Additionally, the substrate storage box 100 includes two transport gripping structures 4 arranged at intervals along the left-right direction D2. Each transport gripping structure 4 has a plurality of first transport reinforcing ribs 42 connected to the top wall 11 and a plurality of second transport reinforcing ribs 43 connected to the corresponding side wall 13. These first transport reinforcing ribs 42 and second transport reinforcing ribs 43 can respectively reduce the deformation of the top wall 11 and the two side walls 13.

[0053] Furthermore, in this second embodiment, the two retaining structures 7 disposed on the front door panel 2 are located closer to the center in the left-right direction D2, and the two retaining structures 7 disposed on the rear wall 14 are also located closer to the center in the left-right direction D2. In this second embodiment, there are six bolt-locking sliders 31 and six bolt-locking grooves 33, and two operating members 32. The operating members 32 and the bolt-locking sliders 31 cooperate to control each other in a one-to-three manner, but this is not a limitation.

[0054] See Figure 10 The difference between a third embodiment of the substrate storage box 100 of the present invention and the second embodiment is that the height of the first transport reinforcing ribs 42 of each transport gripping structure 4 is relatively low.

[0055] See Figures 11 to 13 The fourth embodiment of the substrate storage box 100 of the present invention differs from the second embodiment in that each of the transport gripping structures 4 only has the second transport reinforcing ribs 43 connected to the corresponding side wall 13. Furthermore, in this fourth embodiment, the two retaining structures 7 disposed on the front door panel 2 are biased towards the edge of the front door panel 2 in the left-right direction D2, and the two retaining structures 7 disposed on the rear wall 14 are also biased towards the edge of the rear wall 14 in the left-right direction D2.

[0056] See Figures 15 to 18 The fifth embodiment of the substrate storage box 100 of the present invention differs from the fourth embodiment in that, in this fifth embodiment, the box body 1 has the two side plates 13', and the lateral support portions 15 are formed on the inner sides of the two side plates 13'. Furthermore, although the two retaining structures 7 provided on the rear wall 14 are also biased towards the edge of the rear wall 14 in the left-right direction D2, they are closer to the center than in the fourth embodiment. Additionally, in this fifth embodiment, the retaining portions 72' of each retaining structure 7 provided on the rear wall are not flat long plates, but rather V-shaped long columns with a V-shaped cross-section, specifically a V-shaped structure with an included angle between 90 and 150 degrees. The retaining portion 72' has a relief recess 721 located at the turning point to avoid the sharp corners of the substrates 200.

[0057] See Figure 19 The difference between a sixth embodiment of the substrate storage box 100 of the present invention and the fifth embodiment is that, in this sixth embodiment, at least a portion of the holding portion 72” of the holding structure 7 is a U-shaped long column with a U-shaped cross-section.

[0058] See Figures 15 to 19 It should be noted that, theoretically, the retaining portions 72, 72', and 72" of the retaining structure 7 located on the outer side in the left-right direction D2 can be in the shape of a flat long plate, or a V-shaped long column with a V-shaped cross-section, or a U-shaped long column with a U-shaped cross-section, so that the corners of the substrates 200 can be abutted against. The retaining portion 72 of the retaining structure 7 located on the inner side in the left-right direction D2 is usually in the shape of a flat long plate.

[0059] See Figure 20 and Figure 21A key difference in a variation of the substrate storage box 100 of the present invention is that, in this variation, the mounting portion 71 has two mounting plates 711 for mounting on the mounting structure 9 constructed on the box body 1 or the front door panel 2. The number of mounting plates 711 can be adjusted as needed, and in other embodiments, there may be only one. Taking the structure of the front door panel 2 and the retaining structure 7 as an example, each mounting plate 711 corresponds to one mounting structure 9 on the front door panel 2. Each mounting plate 711 has a first side edge 711a and a second side edge 711b, a positioning groove 711c formed on the first side edge 711a, and two generally L-shaped tenon grooves 711d formed on the second side edge 711b. Each of the aforementioned mounting structures 9 has a positioning hook 91 for engaging with the positioning groove 711c and for positioning the first side edge 711a, two tenoning protrusions 92 for tenoning the two tenoning grooves 711d, and a positioning protrusion 93 for positioning the second side edge 711b. Each tenoning groove 711d has a narrow groove portion 711e that is relatively close to the second side edge 711b and narrower, and a wide groove portion 711f that is relatively far away from the second side edge 711b and wider. Each tenoning protrusion 92 has a wide head 921 and a narrow neck 922. Specifically, during the process of attaching the mounting plate 711 to the mounting structure 9, the wide heads 921 of the two tenoning protrusions 92 are first passed through the wide groove portions 711f of the two tenoning grooves 711d along the front-rear direction D3, at which point the positioning hook 91 is not yet engaged with the positioning groove 711c. Next, the mounting plate 711 is pushed along the left-right direction D2, so that the positioning hook 91 and the positioning groove 711c are close to each other, and the narrow necks 922 of the two tenon protrusions 92 are engaged with the narrow grooves 711e of the two tenon grooves 711d. At this time, the positioning hook 91 and the positioning groove 711c are engaged with each other, and the positioning hook 91 positions the first side edge 711a, and the positioning protrusion 93 positions the second side edge 711b. In this state, the mounting plate 711 is stably mounted on the mounting structure 9.

[0060] In addition, the setting structure 9 also has an operating groove 94 adjacent to the positioning protrusion 93. The operating groove 94 allows the user to insert their finger to move the second side edge 711b of the setting plate 711 away from the positioning protrusion 93 along the front-back direction D3, so that the second side edge 711b of the setting plate 711 disengages from the positioning protrusion 93. Then, the setting plate 711 is pushed along the left-right direction D2 so that the positioning hook 91 and the positioning groove 711c are far apart. Finally, the setting plate 711 can be removed along the front-back direction D3.

[0061] In summary, the present invention, through the retaining structure 7 having an elastic connecting arm 73 and for the substrates 200 (or the metal frame) to abut against, can maintain the position of the substrates 200 in the front-rear direction D3 and reduce the vibration of the substrates 200, thus preventing the substrates 200 from being damaged by vibration or collision during transportation.

[0062] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims and description of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A substrate storage box for storing multiple substrates, characterized in that, The substrate storage box contains: The box has a top wall and a bottom wall that are opposite each other, as well as two side walls and a rear wall connected between the top wall and the bottom wall. The top wall, the bottom wall, the two side walls and the rear wall together define an accommodating space with a front opening for storing the substrate. Front door panel, for providing the front opening of the housing; Multiple retaining structures are provided on the front door panel and the rear wall of the housing and are used to retain the position of the substrate. Each retaining structure has a setting part provided on the front door panel or the rear wall of the housing, a retaining part facing the accommodating space, and an elastic connecting arm connecting the setting part and the retaining part.

2. The substrate storage box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flexible connecting arm is S-shaped and has two bends.

3. The substrate storage box according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the retaining structures has a plurality of the elastic connecting arms, and each of the retaining structures also has a plurality of cutouts located between adjacent elastic connecting arms.

4. The substrate storage box according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each retaining structure has a retaining part that is flat and long.

5. The substrate storage box according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each retaining structure has a retaining part that is a V-shaped long column with a V-shaped cross-section.

6. The substrate storage box according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each retaining structure has a retaining part that is a U-shaped long column with a U-shaped cross-section.

7. The substrate storage box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting part has at least one mounting plate for mounting on a mounting structure constructed on the housing or the front door panel. The mounting plate has a first side edge and a second side edge, a positioning groove formed on the first side edge, and two tenon grooves formed on the second side edge. The mounting structure has a positioning hook for engaging with the positioning groove and for positioning the first side edge, two tenon protrusions for tenoning into the two tenon grooves, and a positioning protrusion for positioning the second side edge.

8. A holding structure for being disposed in a substrate storage box to hold a plurality of substrates within the substrate storage box, characterized in that, The retaining structure has a mounting portion disposed on the front door panel or the rear wall of the substrate storage box, a retaining portion facing the accommodating space of the box, and an elastic connecting arm connecting the mounting portion and the retaining portion.

9. The retaining structure according to claim 8, characterized in that: The flexible connecting arm is S-shaped and has two bends.

10. The retaining structure according to claim 8, characterized in that: The retaining structure has a plurality of the aforementioned elastic connecting arms, and the retaining structure also has a plurality of cutouts located between adjacent elastic connecting arms.

11. The retaining structure according to claim 8, characterized in that: The retaining part of the retaining structure is in the shape of a flat, long plate.

12. The retaining structure according to claim 8, characterized in that: The retaining part of the retaining structure is a V-shaped long column with a V-shaped cross-section.

13. The retaining structure according to claim 8, characterized in that: The retaining part of the retaining structure is a U-shaped long column with a U-shaped cross-section.

14. The retaining structure according to claim 8, characterized in that: The mounting part has at least one mounting plate for mounting on a mounting structure constructed on the housing or the front door panel. The mounting plate has a first side edge and a second side edge, a positioning groove formed on the first side edge, and two tenon grooves formed on the second side edge. The mounting structure has a positioning hook for engaging with the positioning groove and for positioning the first side edge, two tenon protrusions for tenoning into the two tenon grooves, and a positioning protrusion for positioning the second side edge.

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