Rail-guided transport apparatus for IC manufacturing alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the manufacturing of integrated circuit devices, the existing article transport apparatuses require additional time and processes to accurately match the vertical ascent and descent position of the mounting portion with ports and shelves, leading to inefficiencies and potential defects during transport.
Innovation Solution
The article transport apparatus features a rail system with interconnected straight, curved, and oblique paths, allowing the traveling portion to adjust its position easily by using steering wheels and guide rails, enabling the mounting portion to align with ports and shelves without a separate alignment process, thus ensuring accurate and efficient transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a separate alignment process is performed to match the mounting portion position with ports and shelves, then positioning accuracy is improved, but process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rail portion is pre-configured with multiple straight rails and connecting rails arranged in specific patterns before operation begins. This preliminary arrangement of the rail structure eliminates the need for separate alignment processes during operation, as the mounting portion can directly access ports and shelves through the pre-established travel paths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the apparatus size is changed when replacing manufacturing equipment, then adaptability to new production requirements is improved, but alignment adjustment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rail portion design with multiple straight rails extending in different directions and connecting rails linking them creates a universal travel path system. This configuration allows the mounting portion to reach various ports and shelves regardless of apparatus size changes or equipment replacements, eliminating the need for complex alignment adjustments when adapting to new production requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An article transport apparatus includes a traveling portion configured to travel along a rail portion and a mounting portion configured to have a structure suspended under a traveling portion to mount articles thereon, in particular, the rail portion includes a plurality of first straight rails extending in a first direction while being arranged parallel to each other at first intervals, a plurality of second straight rails extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction while being arranged parallel to each other at second intervals, and a connecting rail configured to connect between the first straight rails and the second straight rails, which perpendicularly face each other, so that the traveling portion travels between the first straight rails and the second straight rails perpendicularly facing each other.