Carrier Transfer Facilitating Device for Load Port Retrofitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load ports without integrated carrier transferring devices cannot be used with existing transporting systems, requiring modification or replacement, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A carrier transfer facilitating device that includes a temporary table, a carrier transferring carriage, and a supporting member, allowing carrier transfer between the load port and the temporary table without modifying the load port, using the space above the load port for transfer operations and controlled by a carriage controller to avoid interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a carrier transferring device is incorporated inside the load port, then the waiting time for carrier transportation is reduced, but the existing load port cannot be used and must be modified or replaced
Solution Approach 1:
A carrier transferring carriage is introduced as an intermediary device between the load port and the temporary table. The carriage travels along a rail above the carrier table and transfers carriers without requiring modification to the load port structure itself, thus maintaining compatibility with existing load ports while enabling efficient carrier transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier transfer function is moved from the horizontal plane (inside the load port) to the vertical dimension (above the carrier table). The carriage travels along a rail positioned above the carrier table, utilizing the vertical space to perform transfers without interfering with the load port's existing horizontal operations
2Loss of time
If a carrier transferring device is incorporated inside the load port, then the waiting time for carrier transportation is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier transfer function is segmented from the load port structure and implemented as a separate, independent carriage system. The carriage operates independently on its own rail, allowing the load port to remain simple and unchanged while the transfer function is added as a separate module
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage is designed as a universal transfer device that can be applied to existing load ports without modification. The same carriage design can serve multiple load ports along the rail, providing a multi-functional solution that reduces overall system complexity compared to incorporating transfer mechanisms into each individual load port
Data Source
AI summary
A carrier transfer facilitating device does not require, for example, renewal (replacement) of an existing load port. Specifically, a carrier transfer facilitating device is provided for a load port on which a FOUP is placed. The carrier transfer facilitating device includes a temporary table on which the FOUP is temporarily placed, a carrier transferring carriage that travels above a carrier table of the load port and the temporary table in the horizontal direction and that lifts and transfers the FOUP between the carrier table and the temporary table, a supporting member that supports the temporary table and the carrier transferring carriage, and a controller that controls the movement of the carrier transferring carriage so as to avoid contact of the carrier transferring carriage with the FOUP while the FOUP is transferred between the hoop supporting table or the temporary table and an OHT.