Rotatable Stop Rod Wafer Cassette Prevents Falling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wafer cassettes lack a stopper at the entrance of the linear path, leading to the risk of wafers and wafer rings falling out during storage or delivery.

Innovation Solution

A storage container design featuring a rotatable stop rod with a blocking part and recess, which alternately opens and closes the pick-and-place path to prevent the wafer frames or electronic devices from falling out, utilizing a body with inner surfaces and grooves that form a pick-and-place path and a guidance slot to control the stop rod's rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional wafer cassette is used without a stopper at the entrance, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the wafer frames may fall out during storage or delivery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of wafer frames falling outVSAvoidstructure of storage container

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stop rod is designed to be rotatable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically switch between blocking and non-blocking positions. This dynamic mechanism prevents wafer frames from falling out while maintaining operational flexibility for loading and unloading, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a stop rod is added to prevent wafer frames from falling out, then safety during handling is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety during handling and storageVSAvoidaddition of stop rod mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stop rod leverages gravity and the existing magnetic element to automatically position itself. When the container is tilted or moved, gravity causes the stop rod to rotate into the blocking position, and the magnetic element helps maintain its position. This self-service mechanism provides safety without requiring complex external control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the pick-and-place path is always open for easy access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of devices falling out increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to electronic devicesVSAvoidrisk of devices falling out

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stop rod can be rotated to either block or open the pick-and-place path as needed. During storage and transport, it rotates to block the path, preventing devices from falling out. During loading and unloading operations, it can be rotated to open the path, maintaining ease of operation. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction between safety and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11148864B1Storage container for electronic devices

Publication Date: 2021.10.19 CHIPBOND TECH

AI summary

The present invention discloses a storage container for electronic devices, especially for wafer frames. The storage container includes a body and a stop rod that is provided to open or close a pick-and-place path in the body. The pick-and-place path is open to allow the wafer frames placed in the body to be taken out when a recess of the stop rod is located in the pick-and-place path. On the contrary, the pick-and-place path is closed when a blocking part of the stop rod is located in the pick-and-place path so as to protect the wafer frames placed in the body from falling out from the storage container.