Substrate Container Door Locking Structure Without Pivotable Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional substrate storage containers require manual operation of the door structure using a dedicated tool or pivotable handle, leading to risks of parts loss, particle generation during transportation, and prolonged drying times due to water retention.
Innovation Solution
A door structure with a retractable locking mechanism, featuring a rotator, couplers, and engaging pieces, allows for manual operation via a finger insertion hole and operational window, eliminating the need for dedicated tools and reducing particle generation and drying time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a dedicated small tool is used to detach the door structure, then the door can be manually opened and closed, but the tool may be lost due to its small size and needs to be provided for each processing stage
Solution Approach 1:
The door structure incorporates an integrated manual operating means (knob or lever) that is permanently attached to the door, allowing the door to serve itself for manual operation without requiring external tools. This eliminates the risk of tool loss while maintaining ease of manual operation.
2Ease of operation
If an opening/closing handle is attached in a pivotable manner on the front side of the door structure, then manual operation is enabled, but it takes time and labor to attach and the configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The manual operating means is merged with the door structure itself, forming an integrated unit. The operating means is directly formed on or attached to the door body, eliminating the need for separate pivotable handles and reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining manual operability.
3Ease of operation
If an opening/closing handle is used for manual operation, then the door can be manually opened and closed, but particles are prone to arise around the frictionally movable parts due to vibration and impacts during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the separate pivotable handle component entirely and integrates the manual operating function directly into the door structure. This eliminates the frictionally movable parts that were generating particles during transportation, while preserving the ability to manually open and close the door.
4Ease of operation
If an opening/closing handle with hollow parts is used, then manual operation is enabled, but it takes a long time for drying after washing because washing water stays around the pivot shaft and hollow parts
Solution Approach 1:
The invention eliminates the separate handle assembly with its pivot shaft and hollow parts by integrating the manual operating function directly into the door structure. This removes the water-trapping components, allowing the door to dry quickly after washing while maintaining manual operability.
Data Source
AI summary
A door structure that is detachably fitted into an opening portion of a container body for storing substrates includes a casing to be fitted to the opening portion of the container body, a locking mechanism provided in the casing for locking the casing by causing an engaging piece to project out from the peripheral wall of the casing in a retractable manner based on rotation of a rotator so as to interfere with the inner periphery of the opening portion of the container body, a cover for enclosing the locking mechanism, and an operational window formed in the cover so as to oppose the rotator.