Diagonal Cassette Gripping Mechanism for Stable Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cassette supply apparatuses experience increased cycle times due to substrate transport and cassette replacement times, and there is a risk of impact during cassette gripping and transfer, which can damage substrates and gripping apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A cassette gripping apparatus with grippers that move diagonally to align and grip cassettes, featuring impact absorption and alignment mechanisms to minimize damage and ensure stable transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional substrate transport modules grip and extract substrates one by one from cassette, then substrates can be continuously supplied to next process, but cycle time increases due to transport time and cassette replacement time
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper is pre-positioned at the diagonal vertex of the cassette before substrate extraction begins. The cassette is pre-aligned using guide members during the substrate transport process, so that when all substrates are extracted, the gripper is already in position to immediately grip and replace the cassette, eliminating waiting time
Solution Approach 2:
The cassette gripping and replacement process is integrated with the substrate transport process. While substrates are being extracted and transported one by one, the gripper maintains contact with the cassette at the diagonal vertex, and guide members continuously align the cassette, ensuring no idle time occurs during the transition from substrate extraction to cassette replacement
2Speed
If cassette gripping apparatus grips cassette directly without alignment, then gripping speed increases, but impact is transmitted to substrates causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
Guide members are positioned in advance at the sides of the cassette to perform alignment in the diagonal direction before the gripping action completes. This preliminary alignment ensures the cassette is properly oriented during the gripping process, preventing impact and damage to substrates while maintaining gripping speed
Solution Approach 2:
Guide members act as intermediary elements between the cassette gripping apparatus and the cassette. These guide members facilitate smooth alignment and positioning of the cassette during gripping, reducing direct impact forces that would otherwise be transmitted to the substrates inside the cassette
3Productivity
If cassette is transferred from one gripping apparatus to another, then continuous supply is enabled, but impact is transmitted to cassette or gripping apparatus during transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper maintains continuous contact with the cassette at the diagonal vertex throughout the transfer process. Before transfer begins, the gripper is already positioned and the cassette is pre-aligned, enabling seamless handoff between gripping apparatuses without releasing and re-gripping, thus preventing impact and maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping action continues uninterrupted during the transfer from one apparatus to another. The gripper holds the cassette steadily at the diagonal vertex throughout the entire transfer process, ensuring continuous support and preventing shocks or impacts that would compromise transfer stability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus reduces impact on substrates and cassette gripping apparatuses, enables automatic alignment, and facilitates seamless transfer without shaking, improving efficiency and cycle time.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of dampers elastically connecting the first plate and the second plate
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a cassette gripping apparatus including a first plate, a first cylinder provided on one side of the first plate, and grippers coupled to the first cylinder to grip both sides of a cassette, and the grippers operate to move away from or toward each other with respect to opposite vertices in a diagonal direction of the cassette.The present invention provides a cassette gripping apparatus including a housing, a third cylinder provided on one side of the housing, a fourth cylinder provided on the opposite side of the third cylinder on the housing, a first gripper coupled to the third cylinder to grip one side of a cassette, and a second gripper coupled to the fourth cylinder to grip the other side of the cassette, and the first gripper and the second gripper operate to move away from or toward each other with respect to opposite vertices in a diagonal direction of the cassette.Further, the present invention provides a cassette gripping apparatus including a first transport module configured to grip one end of a cassette and move the cassette in a first direction defined as a direction from a first location to a second location, and a second transport module configured to grip the other end of the cassette and move the cassette in the first direction, the first transport module includes a first cassette gripping apparatus configured to grip an upper end of the cassette, the second transport module includes a second cassette gripping apparatus configured to grip a lower end of the cassette, and the second transport module includes a first gripper and a second gripper reciprocating in different directions on the second cassette gripping apparatus.