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| United States Patent Application |
20080302700
|
| Kind Code
|
A1
|
|
Nyseth; David L.
;   et al.
|
December 11, 2008
|
TRANSPORT MODULE
Abstract
A front-opening wafer transport module has a container portion with
transparent shell and a central support structure which includes a
machine interface exposed at the bottom of the module and integral wafer
support columns extending upwardly in the container portion for
supporting wafers. Additionally, the side walls of the shell have
recessed portions with engagement members that cooperate with engagement
members on removable handles. The handles utilize detents to lock into
place in the recesses on the side walls of the carrier. Attachment of the
handles to the side walls is accomplished without breaks between the
interior and exterior of the module and without separate fastners.
| Inventors: |
Nyseth; David L.; (Plymouth, MN)
; Krampotich; Dennis J.; (Shakopee, MN)
; Ulschmid; Todd M.; (New Prague, MN)
; Bores; Gregory W.; (Prior Lake, MN)
|
| Correspondence Address:
|
PATTERSON, THUENTE, SKAAR & CHRISTENSEN, P.A.
4800 IDS CENTER, 80 SOUTH 8TH STREET
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-2100
US
|
| Serial No.:
|
119240 |
| Series Code:
|
12
|
| Filed:
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May 12, 2008 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
206/711; 414/217.1; 901/50 |
| Class at Publication: |
206/711; 414/217.1; 901/50 |
| International Class: |
B65D 85/86 20060101 B65D085/86; H01L 21/67 20060101 H01L021/67 |
Claims
1-21. (canceled)
22. A sealable enclosure for receiving and holding a plurality of wafers
horizontally, the enclosure comprising:a container portion with a top, a
bottom, a back, an open front, an open interior and comprising a
forwardly projecting door flange with a plurality of recesses therein, a
pair of sides, a plurality of shelves positioned in the open interior at
each side of the container portion for holding the wafers axially aligned
in said interior; anda door for fitting within the door flange and
sealingly closing the open front, the door comprising a plurality of
latch mechanisms that extend and retract latches to engage the recesses
in the door flange, each latch mechanism including a manual opening
handle for operating the latch mechanism manually and each latch
mechanism also including structure defining a key slot for operating the
latch mechanism robotically.
23. The enclosure of claim 22, further comprising a kinematic coupling on
the bottom of the enclosure.
24. The enclosure of claim 22, wherein the plurality of shelves and the
kinematic coupling are integrally formed of static dissipative material,
thereby forming an uninterrupted electrical path to ground.
25. The enclosure of claim 22, the container portion defining a handle
receiving structure on an outside surface of each of the pair of sides,
each handle receiving structure adapted to receive a removable handle and
comprising a pair of spaced apart linear guide strips, whereby the
removable handle is linearly slidable between the guide strips to couple
the removable handle with the container portion.
26. The enclosure of claim 25, wherein each linear guide strip comprises a
planar portion oriented generally parallel with the side and spaced apart
from the side, the planar portions of the each of the spaced apart guide
strips being vertically registered and extending toward each other such
that the guide strips together define a handle receiving slot for
linearly slidingly receiving the handle therein.
27. The enclosure of claim 25, in combination with a pair of handles,
wherein each of the
handles is linearly slidably engageable with a
separate one of the handle receiving structures, and wherein each handle
comprises a detent for securing the handle in a favored position.
28. The enclosure of claim 22, wherein an inside facing surface of the
door has a central recess extending from the top of the door to the
bottom of the door and wherein a wafer restraint is positioned in the
central recess.
29. A sealable transport module for receiving and holding a plurality of
wafers horizontally, the module comprising:a container portion with a
top, a bottom, a back, a pair of opposing sides, an open front, and an
open interior, the open front being defined by a door frame with a
plurality of recesses therein, the container portion further including a
plurality of shelves positioned in the open interior proximate each side
of the container portion for holding the wafers axially aligned in said
interior; anda door selectively engageable in the door frame to sealingly
close the open front, the door comprising at least one latch mechanism
that extends and retract latches to engage the recesses in the door
flange, the at least one latch mechanism including means for operating
the latch mechanism manually and the at least one latch mechanism also
including means for operating the latch mechanism robotically.
30. The module of claim 29, wherein the means for operating the at least
one latch mechanism manually comprises a manual opening handle operably
coupled with the at least one latch mechanism.
31. The module of claim 29, wherein the means for operating the at least
one latch mechanism robotically comprises structure defining a key slot
operably coupled with the at least one latch mechanism.
32. The module of claim 29, further comprising a kinematic coupling on the
bottom of the enclosure.
33. The module of claim 32, wherein the plurality of shelves and the
kinematic coupling are integrally formed of static dissipative material,
thereby forming an uninterrupted electrical path to ground.
34. The module of claim 29, the container portion defining a handle
receiving structure on an outside surface of each of the pair of opposing
sides, each handle receiving structure adapted to receive a removable
handle and comprising a pair of spaced apart linear guide strips, whereby
the removable handle is linearly slidable between the guide strips to
couple the removable handle with the container portion.
35. The module of claim 34, wherein each linear guide strip comprises a
planar portion oriented generally parallel with the side and spaced apart
from the side, the planar portions of the each of the spaced apart guide
strips being vertically registered and extending toward each other such
that the guide strips together define a handle receiving slot for
linearly slidingly receiving the handle therein.
36. The module of claim 34, in combination with a pair of handles, wherein
each of the
handles is linearly slidably engageable with a separate one
of the handle receiving structures, and wherein each handle comprises a
detent for securing the handle in a favored position.
37. The module of claim 29, wherein an inside facing surface of the door
has a central recess extending from the top of the door to the bottom of
the door and wherein a wafer restraint is positioned in the central
recess.
38. A sealable enclosure for transporting a plurality of semiconductor
wafers, the enclosure comprising:a container portion with a top, a
bottom, a back, a pair of opposing sides, an open front, and an open
interior, the open front being defined by a door frame with a plurality
of recesses therein, the container portion further including a plurality
of shelves positioned in the open interior proximate each side of the
container portion for holding the wafers axially aligned in said
interior; anda door selectively engageable in the door frame to sealingly
close the open front, the door comprising at least one latch mechanism
that extends and retract latches to engage the recesses in the door
flange, the at least one latch mechanism including a handle and separate
structure defining a key slot, each operably coupled with the latch
mechanism to enable the latches to be selectively extended and retracted.
39. The enclosure of claim 38, the container portion defining a handle
receiving structure on an outside surface of each of the pair of sides,
each handle receiving structure adapted to receive a removable handle and
comprising a pair of spaced apart linear guide strips, whereby the
removable handle is linearly slidable between the guide strips to couple
the removable handle with the container portion.
40. The enclosure of claim 39, wherein each linear guide strip comprises a
planar portion oriented generally parallel with the side and spaced apart
from the side, the planar portions of the each of the spaced apart guide
strips being vertically registered and extending toward each other such
that the guide strips together define a handle receiving slot for
linearly slidingly receiving the handle therein.
41. The enclosure of claim 39, in combination with a pair of handles,
wherein each of the handles is linearly slidably engageable with a
separate one of the handle receiving structures, and wherein each handle
comprises a detent for securing the handle in a favored position.
Description
[0001]This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No.
10/848,096, filed May 18, 2004, which will issue May 13, 2008, as U.S.
Pat. No. 7,370,764, which is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser.
No. 09/476,546, filed Jan. 3, 2000, which is a Continuation of
application Ser. No. 08/891,644, filed Jul. 11, 1997 issued as U.S. Pat.
No. 6,010,008 which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002]This invention relates to carriers for semiconductor wafers and more
particularly it relates to a closeable container for storing and
transporting wafers.
[0003]Sealable enclosures, generally termed transport modules, have been
utilized in the semiconductor processing industry for a number of years
for storing and transporting wafers between processing steps and/or
between facilities. Semiconductor wafers are notoriously vulnerable to
damage from contaminants such as particles. Extraordinary measures are
taken to eliminate contaminants in cleanrooms and other environments
where semiconductor wafers are stored or processed into circuits.
[0004]For wafers in the range of 200 mm and smaller, containers known as
SMIF pods (standardized mechanism interface) have been utilized to
provide a clean sealed mini-environment. Examples of these pods are shown
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,532,970 and 4,534,389. Such SMIF pods typically
utilize a transparent box-shaped shell with a lower door frame or flange
defining an open bottom and a latchable door. The door frame clamps onto
processing equipment and a door on the processing equipment and the lower
SMIF pod door closing the open bottom are simultaneously lowered
downwardly from the shell into a sealed processing environment in said
processing equipment. A separate H-bar carrier positioned on the top
surface inside of the SMIF pod door and loaded with wafers is lowered
with the pod door for accessing and processing said wafers. In such pods
the weight of the wafers would be directly on the door during storage and
transport.
[0005]The semiconductor processing industry is moving toward utilization
of larger and heavier wafers, specifically 300 mm wafers. Transport
modules for such modules, by way of developing industry standards, will
utilize a front opening door for insertion and removal of the wafers as
opposed to a bottom door that drops downwardly from the module. The door
would not support the load of the wafers, rather a container portion
which would include a clear plastic (such as polycarbonate) shell and
other members or supporting the wafers molded from a low particle
generating plastic (such as polyetheretherketone) would carry the load of
the wafers. Such container portions necessarily are made from multiple
components assembled together.
[0006]In handling and processing semiconductor wafers, static electricity
is a continuing concern. Electrostatic discharges can damage or ruin
semiconductor wafers. Therefore, means must be taken to minimize any such
generation of potentials which may cause static electric discharges.
H-bar carriers have been manufactured with convention static dissipative
materials such as carbon filled polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and
polycarbonate (PC).
[0007]The developing industry standards for such 300 mm modules require a
machine interface, such as a kinematic coupling, on the bottom of the
module to repeatedly and with precision align the module with respect to
the processing equipment. This allows robotic handling means to engage
the door on the front side of the module, open the door, and with the
necessary amount of precision grasp and remove specific horizontally
arranged wafers. It is highly critical to have the wafers positioned at a
particular height and orientation with reference to the equipment machine
interface such that the wafers will not be located and damaged during the
robotic withdrawal and insertion of said wafers.
[0008]Due to inconsistencies in molding plastic parts assembly of such
plastic parts lead to inconsistencies, such as open cracks between parts
and the stacking of the tolerances of each individual part leading to
undesirable variations in critical dimensions.
[0009]Known front opening 300 mm transport modules utilize multiple
component parts including multiple components between the equipment
interface and the wafer supports. This can lead to difficulty in
producing modules with acceptable tolerances between the wafer planes and
the equipment interface. Additionally, such modules have a path to ground
from the wafer shelves to the equipment interface through several
different components including metallic screws.
[0010]The 300 mm wafers are substantially greater in size and weight than
the 200 mm modules; therefore, a structurally stronger module for
transporting batches of wafers is required. Typically with the 200 mm
SMIF pods the module was simply carried manually by grasping the lower
edges at the juncture of the shell door flange and the door. Handles have
been provided on the top of the shell portion for bottom opening pods.
For carrying the larger, heavier, and bulkier modules for 300 mm wafers
side handles are appropriate. For certain applications, the movement of
the 300 mm module may be exclusively by way of robotic means thus not
requiring handles or other means for manually transporting the container.
Thus, a robotic lifting handle should be provided and any manual lifting
handles should be easily removable.
[0011]Additionally, due to the high susceptibility of wafers to
contamination by particles, moisture or other contaminants it is ideal to
have a minimal number of potential entry paths to the interior of the
module. Paths or breaks in the plastic between the interior and exterior
of the pod such as for fasteners or at the junction of separate component
parts of the module are to be avoided. Any such path required should be
adequately sealed.
[0012]Additionally, the use at any location in the pod of metallic
fasteners or other metal parts are highly undesirable in semiconductor
wafer carriers or containers. Metallic parts generate highly damaging
particulates when rubbed or scrapped.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013]A front-opening wafer transport module has a container portion with
transparent shell and a central support structure which includes a
machine interface exposed at the bottom of the module and integral wafer
support columns extending upwardly in the container portion for
supporting wafers. Additionally, the side walls of the shell have
recessed portions with engagement members that cooperate with engagement
members on removable handles. The handles utilize detents to lock into
place in the recesses on the side walls of the carrier. Attachment of the
handles to the side walls is accomplished without breaks between the
interior and exterior of the module and without separate fastners.
[0014]A feature and advantage of the invention is that there are no
stacking of tolerances among parts relative to the machine interface
level and the levels of the wafers on the wafer shelves. Where multiple
components define the machine interface level and the wafer levels, each
part has a separate manufacturing tolerance and when such components are
assembled into the module the tolerances are cumulative. This translates
into a higher rejection of individual parts and/or a higher rejection
level of assembled modules. The instant invention utilizes a single
integral component for the machine interface and the wafer support
members.
[0015]Another advantage and feature of the invention is that a
non-interrupted path-to-ground extends from each wafer support shelf to
the machine interface.
[0016]Another object and advantage of the invention is that the central
support structure which holds the wafers is assembled into the shell
through a lower opening and is secured in place by a rotation of the
central support structure with respect to the shell. No metallic
fasteners are used.
[0017]Additionally, the central support structure engages and locks at the
top of the shell by way of a top portion with a collar that extends into
an aperture in the top of the shell and robotic lifting flange that
slidably engages the top portion of the central support structure and
also thereby non-rotatably locks the support structure to the shell.
Again, no metallic fasteners or components are used.
[0018]Another object and advantage of the invention is that the breaks or
openings in the module between the interior and exterior are sealed such
as by elastomeric seals. The breaks or openings other than at the front
door are circular in shape and are sealed such as by O-rings.
[0019]Anther object and advantage of the invention is that handles may be
easily added and removed to the module without utilizing metallic
fasteners or other separate fasteners and without breaks or openings in
the solid side walls.
[0020]Another object and advantage of the invention is that the component
parts may be easily disassembled for cleaning and/or replacement for
maintenance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transport module plotting the
invention.
[0022]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container portion of a transport
module embodying the invention.
[0023]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inside facing cover of the door
for the transport module embodying the invention.
[0024]FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the various component parts of a
transport module.
[0025]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a container portion of the transport
module.
[0026]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a guide-in structure.
[0027]FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the shell of the container portion.
[0028]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the central support structure.
[0029]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 9-9 of FIG. 8.
[0030]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 10-10 of FIG. 7.
[0031]FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the top portion of the
central support structure.
[0032]FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the second connecting member
including the robotic flange.
[0033]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 13-13 of FIG. 8.
[0034]FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the handle.
[0035]FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the handle.
[0036]FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of a portion of the shell showing
the recess for the handle.
[0037]FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 17-17 of FIG. 6.
[0038]FIG. 18 is an elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the
invention focusing on the handle and recess for receiving the handle.
[0039]FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 19-19 of FIG. 18.
[0040]FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 20-20 of FIG. 18.
[0041]FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of a portion of the module
showing an alternative embodiment of the handle.
[0042]FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of the handle.
[0043]FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 23-23 of FIG. 21.
[0044]FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 24-24 of FIG. 21.
DETAILED SPECIFICATION
[0045]Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 a composite transport module for
wafers generally designated with the numeral 20 is principally comprised
of a container portion 22 and a door 24. The container portion includes a
robotic lifting flange 26 and manual lifting handles 28. The door 24 has
manual opening handles 30 and a key slot 32 which provides capability of
being opened by way of robotic means. FIG. 2 shows the container portion
and its open interior 36 with a plurality of wafers 38 shown supported
and axially arranged in said open interior. FIG. 3 shows the inside
surface 40 of the door. The door has a pair of wafer restraints 42 which
engage and restrain the wafers when the door is in place. The wafer
retainers are formed of flexible teeth 44 which are of resilient molded
plastic. The door 24 fits within a door flange 46 on the container
portion 22 and utilizes latches 48 which extend and retract from the door
enclosure 50 to engage recesses 54 in the door flange. The door has a
pair of internal latch mechanisms 53 which operate independently of each
other and by way of the manual door handle 30 or key slot 32. FIG. 3 also
depicts a piece of processing equipment 55 with a module interface
portion 56 on which the transport module 20 is engaged.
[0046]Referring to FIG. 4, an exploded perspective view of the transport
module which show details of the construction and the various component
parts. The container portion 22 is comprised principally of a shell 58
and a central support structure 60.
[0047]The shell 58 has a top 64 with an aperture 66, a bottom 68 with a
lower opening 70, an open front side 72, a left side wall 74, and a right
side wall 76 both with handle receiving portions configured as recesses
78 extending inwardly. Notably, the recesses project into the interior
but have no cracks, breaks, openings or apertures between the interior 74
and the exterior of the container. The side walls may be continuous and
solid. The handle receiving portions include a recessed planar portion 80
which is part of the side walls. Shelves may be as shown in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/523,745 to David Nyseth filed Mar. 13, 2000. Said
application is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0048]The central support structure 60 is comprised of a bottom portion
with an equipment interface 86 configured as a plate with three interface
structures 88 which comprise a kinematic coupling. Integral with the
machine interface portion 86 are a pair of wafer support columns 92 each
of which comprise a plurality of shelves 94 and defining a wafer
receiving region 95. Each shelf having wafer engagement portions 96. The
wafer support columns 92 are integral with a top portion 100 which
includes a spanning member 101 which extends between the tops 98 of the
support columns 92 and also includes a first connecting member 104.
[0049]The central support structure 60 assembles upwardly into the lower
opening 70 of the shell 58 with the first connecting member extending
upwardly through the aperture 66 on the top 64 of the shell 58. The
second connecting member 106 slidably engages on the first connecting
member 104 for retention of the central support structure in the shell. A
second connecting member 106 which is integral with a robotic lifting
handle 108 configured as a flange. The shell also includes first
engagement members 112 as part of a support structure engagement portion
113 which engage with second engagement members 114 as part of a shell
engagement portion 115 on the central support structure. These
cooperating engagement members also secure the central support structure
to and within the shell. A first O-ring 118 engages between the top
portion 100 of the central support structure and the top 64 of the shell
to create a seal thereabout. Similarly, a second O-ring 120 seals between
the machine interface portion 86 and the bottom 68 of the shell.
Referring to FIG. 5, the transport module 20 with the door 24 removed
reveals the open interior 36 and the various interior structures. This
particular embodiment utilizes a guide-in structure 122 which engages
with rails 124, 126 on the interior surface 130 of the side walls 74, 76
and integral with same. Shown in FIG. 6 each guide-in structure utilizes
elongate engagement members 136 to fit within the rails 124, 126. the
guide-in structure 122 includes teeth 138 which define slots 140 which
are substantially parallel to and correlate with each of the slots 142 as
defined by the shelves 94 of said wafer support columns 92. Typically the
guide-in members are intended to be used when there is manual insertion
of the wafers as opposed to robotic insertion. The guide-in structures
122 can also be expanded to support each wafer during more of each
wafer's travel into and out of the transport module.
[0050]As shown best in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8, the lower portion of the central
support structure includes a machine interface plate 86 which has a
planar top surface 170 and a step 174 down to a lower planar surface 176.
Note that the lower planar surface 176 confronts the inwardly-extending
portion 180 of the bottom 68 of the shell 58. Note that this
inwardly-extending portion 180 does not extend uniformly as a chord
across the lower generally circular opening 70; rather a further inset
portion 184 allows the central support structure 60 to be put in place
slightly rotated off the fully aligned position to provide for the
insertion of the second engagement members into position intermediate the
first engagement member 112 on the shelf. The central support structure
60 can then be partially rotated to the assembled position as shown in
FIG. 5.
[0051]Referring to FIGS. 4, 8, 11 and 12, details of the elements and
components which comprise the connection between the top portion 100 of
the central support structure 60 and the shell 58 are shown in detail.
The top portion 100 has a pair of first connecting members 104 which have
a generally T-shaped cross section as best shown in FIG. 11. The first
connecting members 104 engage with and fit into slots 186 also having a
T-shaped cross section in the second connecting member 106 which is part
of the robotic lifting flange 108. After the central support structure 60
is inserted into place in the shell 58 and rotated to the proper
alignment position, the collar or neck 188 of the top portion 100 will
extend through the aperture 66 and will confront the inner edge 190 which
defines said aperture. The smaller O-ring 118 fits into the O-ring groove
194 on said neck 188 and creates a seal with the shell at the inner edge
190. The phantom line of FIG. 11 shows the relationship of the top 64 of
the shell 58 as it confronts the neck 188 of the top portion of the
central support structure 60. Thus, when the second connecting member 106
is engaged with the first connecting members 104, the top 64 of the shell
58 is sandwiched between said first engagement member 106 and the top
portion 100 of the central support structure. The second connecting
member 106 may be locked in place on the first connecting member 104 by
way of an appropriately positioned detent or nub 202 such as shown in
FIG. 4 on the top surface 203 of the top of the shell 58. Alternatively
or additionally, screws 206 may be utilized which would extend through
the robotic pick-up flange 108 through the second connecting member 106
and into the threaded holes 208 in the first connecting members 106. The
screws are appropriately nylon as opposed to a metallic material.
[0052]The equipment interface 86 as best shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8,
includes a kinematic coupling 90 formed by way of the equipment
engagement portion 88. Referencing FIG. 13 which is a cross section
through one such structure, the lower surface 220 includes a pair of
angled faces 222, 224 defining a groove 225 which would engage partial,
spherical surfaces on the equipment, not shown. Alternatively, the
interface portion of the central support structure 60 could include said
three partial spheres and the cooperating equipment include the grooves
formed by angled faces. Alternatively, the equipment interface 86 could
include alternate configurations and features to interface with the
associated equipment.
[0053]Referring to FIGS. 2, 14, 15, 16, and 17, details of the
construction and assembly of the removable manual lifting
handles 28 are
shown. The handle comprises a gripping portion 240 and a shell engagement
portion 242. The shell engagement portion 242 utilizes resilient portions
244 with detents 246 and stops 248. The detents 246 have a wedge portion
250 which facilitates installation of the handle into the recesses 78 and
rotation under the second engagement structures 254 on the shell 58. The
said second engagement structures comprises a pair of inwardly-extending
members 255 configured as guide strips which correspond to the extended
portion 258 on the handle engagement portion 242 when said handle is in a
locked position in said recess 78. In such a locked position, the detents
246 and the stops 248 are at opposite ends of the guide strips 255. The
recess 78 is defined by way of a planar portion 262 integral with a
circumferential recess wall configured as a ring-shaped portion 264 which
is integral with the shell. The guide members 255 are integral with and
extend from said ring portion 264. Said configuration allows easy
installation simply by placement of the handles 28 into the recesses 78
shown in FIG. 16 with the outwardly-extending portions positioned
intermediate the guide members 255 and then rotating in a clockwise
direction said handle with the first engagement structure whereby the
extending portions 258 including the detent 246 rotate underneath the
guide members 255 until the detents 246 snap into place at their seating
positions 269 at which point the stops 248 are in their respective
seating positions 270.
[0054]Significantly, this particular configuration allows easy
installation and removal of the handle such as for cleaning or storage or
when a robotic application does not require use of the handle.
Additionally, the integrity of the separation between the interior of the
transport module and the exterior is not affected. In other words, there
are no breaks, openings or fasteners through the side walls to accomplish
the connection of the handle to said shell.
[0055]Referring to FIG. 18, engagement structure 275 includes an
alternative embodiment of the removable handle 28 shown. This embodiment
again utilizes a recess 78 extending inwardly in the side wall 74 with a
planar portion 262 at the bottom of said recess. A recess wall or border
portion 274 extends around and defines said recess and is integral with
the planar portion 262 and the side wall 74. First engagement member 276
configured as four tabs extending inwardly from the recess wall 274. The
manual lifting handle 28 comprises a gripping portion 240 and the
engagement portion 254 which includes planar portion 277 with
resiliently-flexible portions with detents 284. The manual handle 28 is
inserted into the recess 78 such that the resilient portions 280 are
placed intermediate the tabs 276 and the handle is then slid to the left
such that the detents extend under said tabs and slide until they reach
their locking position as shown in FIG. 18. Again, this configuration
does not breach the integrity of the side wall separating the interior of
the transport module from the exterior. Other configurations are also
available for utilization of the handle with cooperating engagement
members utilizing detents. The use of the detents provides a high level
of flexibility in placement and removal of the handles and allows
exchange of different sizes of handles, for example, for different
operators.
[0056]The shell portion of the material is preferably injection molded
form polycarbonate or polyetherimide or the like. The central support
structure is also ideally integrally injection molded and may be formed
from carbon fiber filled PEEK or similar materials, ideally which provide
a static dissipative feature. The handles may be injection molded from
polycarbonate or polyetherimide. The top second connecting member
including the robotic lifting handle may be also formed from carbon fiber
filled PEEK or other static dissipative injection molded material.
[0057]The mechanisms utilized for latching the doors can be varied and may
be such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,430 to Anthony C. Bonora et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,562 to Nyseth, or similar mechanisms.
[0058]Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, cross-sectional views are taken
through the shell and handle member as shown in FIG. 18. Note the detent
284 includes a wedge-shaped portion 250 to aid insertion under the
engagement member 276. Referring to FIGS. 21, 22, 23, and 24, various
views are shown of an additional embodiment of the handle member and the
cooperating engagement structure of the shell. In this particular
embodiment the detent members 300 extend normally from the recessed
planar portion 304 and thus normally from the side wall of the shell. The
detent members generally comprise a pair of angled or wedge-shaped
portions 308 sized to fit into a cooperating second engagement member 312
utilizing a circular aperture 314.
[0059]The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof; and it
is, therefore, desired that the present embodiment be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the
appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the
scope of the invention.
* * * * *