JP2014116536A - End effector device and positioning method of planar member using end effector device - Google Patents

End effector device and positioning method of planar member using end effector device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
JP2014116536A
JP2014116536A JP2012271126A JP2012271126A JP2014116536A JP 2014116536 A JP2014116536 A JP 2014116536A JP 2012271126 A JP2012271126 A JP 2012271126A JP 2012271126 A JP2012271126 A JP 2012271126A JP 2014116536 A JP2014116536 A JP 2014116536A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
plate
positioning member
base
movable positioning
hand
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
JP2012271126A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Other versions
JP6116088B2 (en
Inventor
Takayuki Fukushima
崇行 福島
Ryosuke Kanemaru
亮介 金丸
Daiki Miyagawa
大輝 宮川
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd filed Critical Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd
Priority to JP2012271126A priority Critical patent/JP6116088B2/en
Publication of JP2014116536A publication Critical patent/JP2014116536A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of JP6116088B2 publication Critical patent/JP6116088B2/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an end effector device including a simple hand and a positioning mechanism of a planar member in the hand.SOLUTION: An end effector device includes a base 21 provided at the tip of a robot arm, a hand 3 including a mounting part 30, on which at least one semiconductor wafer can be mounted, and provided on the base 21 movably relative to the base 21, at least one fixed positioning member 6 standing on the base 21 so as to come into contact with the peripheral edge of a semiconductor wafer 9, mounted on the mounting part 30 of the hand 3, on one side of the movement axis thereof, and at least one movable positioning member 5 provided on the base 21 so as to allow for motion, including undulation or undulation and relative movement for the base 21, and to come into contact with the peripheral edge of a semiconductor wafer 9 on the other side of the movement axis L thereof while standing by the movement.

Description

本発明は、エンドエフェクタ装置及び該エンドエフェクタ装置を用いた板状部材の位置決め方法に関し、特に板状部材の水平面内における位置決め機構を備えるエンドエフェクタ装置、及び該エンドエフェクタ装置を用いた板状部材の位置決め方法に関する。   The present invention relates to an end effector device and a plate-like member positioning method using the end effector device, and more particularly to an end effector device provided with a positioning mechanism in a horizontal plane of the plate-like member, and a plate-like member using the end effector device. The present invention relates to a positioning method.

一般に、半導体ウエハを搬送するロボットのエンドエフェクタ装置は、ハンド上の所定位置に半導体ウエハを保持することが要求される。このような要求を満たすエンドエフェクタ装置として、例えば、半導体ウエハをハンド上の所定位置に把持する把持機構を備えたエンドエフェクタ装置が広く知られている。
一方、エンドエフェクタ装置ではないが、半導体ウエハのような基板を水平面内にて位置決めする機構として、特許文献1に開示されたものが知られている。これは、基板が載置されるフロートチャックの周囲に基準ピンと、該チャックを水平面内にて押す押しピンを設け、基板が載置されたフロートチャックを押しピンにて基準ピンに押し当てることで該基板の水平面内における位置を決めている。
Generally, an end effector device of a robot that transports a semiconductor wafer is required to hold the semiconductor wafer at a predetermined position on the hand. As an end effector apparatus that satisfies such requirements, for example, an end effector apparatus that includes a gripping mechanism that grips a semiconductor wafer at a predetermined position on a hand is widely known.
On the other hand, although not an end effector device, a mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as a mechanism for positioning a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer in a horizontal plane. This is because a reference pin and a push pin for pressing the chuck in a horizontal plane are provided around the float chuck on which the substrate is placed, and the float chuck on which the substrate is placed is pressed against the reference pin with the push pin. The position of the substrate in the horizontal plane is determined.

特開平5―226214号公報JP-A-5-226214

ところで、半導体ウエハの搬送用のエンドエフェクタ装置には、ハンドが簡素な構造を有することが必要とされる用途が存在する。
しかし、半導体ウエハの把持機構を備える従来技術では、ハンドに当該把持機構を設けるためにハンドの構造が複雑である。
また、特許文献1に開示された位置決め機構では、基板を直接位置決めするのではなく、フロートチャックを介して間接的に位置決めしている。従って、フロートチャックが必須の要素であるため、位置決め機構が複雑である。
本発明の目的は、簡素なハンド及び当該ハンドにおける板状部材の位置決め機構を備えたエンドエフェクタ装置を提供することにある。
By the way, the end effector device for transporting a semiconductor wafer has applications in which the hand needs to have a simple structure.
However, in the prior art including a semiconductor wafer gripping mechanism, the structure of the hand is complicated because the gripping mechanism is provided in the hand.
Moreover, in the positioning mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 1, the substrate is not positioned directly, but indirectly through a float chuck. Therefore, since the float chuck is an essential element, the positioning mechanism is complicated.
The objective of this invention is providing the end effector apparatus provided with the positioning mechanism of the plate-shaped member in the simple hand and the said hand.

本発明の或る態様に係るエンドエフェクタ装置は、ロボットアームの一端部に設けられる基台と、少なくとも1枚の板状部材を載置可能な載置部を含み、所定の移動軸線に沿って、前記基台に対して移動可能に前記基台上に設けられたハンドと、前記ハンドの載置部に載置された前記板状部材の前記移動軸線における一方の側の周縁に接するように前記基台に立設された少なくとも1つの固定位置決め部材と、起伏又は起伏及び前記基台に対する相対移動を含む運動が可能なように且つ前記運動により起立した姿勢で前記板状部材の前記移動軸線における他方の側の周縁に接するように構成されて前記基台に設けられた少なくとも1つの可動位置決め部材とを備えている。 An end effector device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a base provided at one end of a robot arm, and a placement portion on which at least one plate-like member can be placed, along a predetermined movement axis. A hand provided on the base so as to be movable with respect to the base, and a peripheral edge on one side of the movement axis of the plate-like member placed on the placement part of the hand At least one fixed positioning member erected on the base, and the movement axis of the plate-like member in a posture capable of movement including undulation or undulation and relative movement with respect to the base, and in a posture raised by the movement And at least one movable positioning member provided on the base so as to be in contact with the peripheral edge on the other side.

この構成に従えば、ハンドを移動軸線の他方の側に移動させて板状部材をハンドの載置部に載置させ、ハンドを移動軸線の一方の側に移動させて所定位置に位置させた後、且つ可動位置決め部材を起立するよう運動させることにより、板状部材はハンドの載置部に載置された状態で、周縁が固定位置決め部材及び移動した可動位置決め部材に接する。これにより、板状部材はハンド上の位置が定められる。しかも、位置決め部材は基台に設けられるので、ハンドの構造を簡素なものとすることができる。
また、可動位置決め部材と固定位置決め部材との間で、板状部材が所謂エッジグリップ状態となって把持されるから、上述のように板状部材を位置決めした後、ロボットアームを動作させて板状部材を搬送する時に板状部材が位置ずれしない。
According to this configuration, the hand is moved to the other side of the movement axis to place the plate-like member on the placement portion of the hand, and the hand is moved to one side of the movement axis to be positioned at a predetermined position. After that, by moving the movable positioning member so as to stand, the plate-like member is placed on the placement portion of the hand, and the periphery contacts the fixed positioning member and the moved movable positioning member. Thereby, the position of the plate-like member on the hand is determined. Moreover, since the positioning member is provided on the base, the structure of the hand can be simplified.
In addition, since the plate-like member is held in a so-called edge grip state between the movable positioning member and the fixed positioning member, the plate-like member is positioned as described above, and then the robot arm is operated to form the plate-like member. The plate-shaped member is not displaced when the member is conveyed.

更に、前記載置部は、載置される板状部材の主面が前記移動軸線に平行になるように設けられ、
前記可動位置決め部材は、前記板状部材の主面に平行な軸の周りに回動可能に設けられ、前記板状部材の主面に略垂直な起立姿勢と、該起立姿勢から回動して載置面に略平行な伏臥姿勢とを取ることが可能に構成され、
更に、該可動位置決め部材を前記起立姿勢と前記伏臥姿勢との間で回動させる駆動機構を備えていてもよい。
Further, the placing portion is provided so that a main surface of the plate-like member to be placed is parallel to the movement axis.
The movable positioning member is provided so as to be rotatable around an axis parallel to the main surface of the plate-like member, and stands upright substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the plate-like member, and rotates from the upright posture. It is configured to be able to take a prone posture substantially parallel to the mounting surface,
Furthermore, a drive mechanism that rotates the movable positioning member between the standing posture and the prone posture may be provided.

上記構成に従えば、板状部材をハンドの載置部に載置する場合に、可動位置決め部材を、伏臥姿勢を取るように回動させると、可動位置決め部材が伏臥姿勢では板状部材の主面に平行に位置するから、載置部に板状部材が載置されることを邪魔しない。   According to the above configuration, when the plate-like member is placed on the placement portion of the hand, when the movable positioning member is rotated so as to take the prone posture, the movable positioning member is in the prone posture and the main member of the plate-like member is placed. Since it is located parallel to the surface, it does not interfere with the placement of the plate member on the placement portion.

更に、前記可動位置決め部材は、前記固定位置決め部材に周面が接している板状部材の周縁に起立姿勢で接する第1の位置と、前記第1の位置から離間した第2の位置との間を移動可能であり、且つ前記第2の位置で伏臥姿勢から起立姿勢を取り、その後、前記第1の位置に移動するよう構成されていてもよい。 Further, the movable positioning member is between a first position where the peripheral surface of the plate-like member whose peripheral surface is in contact with the fixed positioning member is in a standing posture and a second position which is separated from the first position. And a standing posture from the prone posture at the second position, and then moving to the first position.

上記構成に従えば、ハンドが所定位置に移動して、固定位置決め部材に板状部材の周縁が接した後に、可動位置決め部材は周面が板状部材の周縁から離間した第2の位置において起立してから第1の位置に移動する。即ち、可動位置決め部材は、板状部材をその主面に沿った方向に押して板状部材を位置決めするから、板状部材をより確実にその主面内で位置決めすることができる。   According to the above configuration, after the hand moves to a predetermined position and the peripheral edge of the plate-shaped member comes into contact with the fixed positioning member, the movable positioning member rises at the second position where the peripheral surface is separated from the peripheral edge of the plate-shaped member. And then move to the first position. That is, since the movable positioning member pushes the plate member in the direction along the main surface to position the plate member, the plate member can be more reliably positioned within the main surface.

本発明は、簡素なハンド及び当該ハンドにおける板状部材の位置決め機構を備えたエンドエフェクタ装置を提供することができる。 The present invention can provide an end effector device including a simple hand and a plate-like member positioning mechanism in the hand.

図1は、本発明の第1の実施形態に係るエンドエフェクタ装置が用いられる板状部材搬送用ロボットの全体斜視図である。FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a plate-shaped member transfer robot in which an end effector device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is used. 図2は、図1の板状部材搬送用ロボットをA方向から見た図である。FIG. 2 is a view of the plate-like member transport robot of FIG. 1 as viewed from the A direction. 図3(a)は、ハンドが前進した状態を、図3(b)は、ハンドが後退した状態を夫々示す平面図である。3A is a plan view showing a state in which the hand has moved forward, and FIG. 3B is a plan view showing a state in which the hand has moved backward. 図4(a)、(b)、(c)は、図2の基台をB―B線を含む面にて破断し矢視した側面断面図である。4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c) are side cross-sectional views of the base of FIG. 2 taken along the plane including the line BB and viewed from the direction of the arrows. 図5は、図4のC部の拡大図である。FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. 図6(a)、(b)は、可動位置決め部材を伏臥姿勢と起立姿勢との間にて回動させる機構の変形例を示す側面断面図である。FIGS. 6A and 6B are side cross-sectional views showing a modification of the mechanism for rotating the movable positioning member between the prone posture and the standing posture. 図7(a)、(b)は本発明の第2の実施形態に係るエンドエフェクタ装置におけるハンドの平面図である。FIGS. 7A and 7B are plan views of the hand in the end effector device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 図8(a)、(b)は図7のエンドエフェクタ装置における可動位置決め部材の動作を示す側面断面図である。8A and 8B are side cross-sectional views showing the operation of the movable positioning member in the end effector device of FIG. 図9(a)、(b)は図7のエンドエフェクタ装置における可動位置決め部材の動作を示す側面断面図である。9A and 9B are side cross-sectional views showing the operation of the movable positioning member in the end effector device of FIG.

以下、本発明の一実施形態を、図を用いて詳述する。なお、以下では全ての図面を通じて、同一又は相当する要素には同一の参照符号を付して、その重複する説明を省略する。   Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

(第1の実施形態)
本発明は板状部材搬送用ロボットのアームの先端部に、取り付けられるエンドエフェクタ装置に関するが、先ず該板状部材搬送用ロボットの全体を説明する。また、板状部材として、以下では円板状の半導体ウエハを例示するが、板状部材は該半導体ウエハに限定されない。例えば、板状部材は、半導体プロセスによって処理される薄型液晶ディスプレイ、有機ELディスプレイ用のガラス基板であってもよい。また、半導体ウエアは、半導体デバイスの基板材料であり、シリコンウエハ、シリコンカーバイドウエハ、サファイアウエハ等を含む。
また、以下の記載にあっては、上下方向とは鉛直方向を指す。
(First embodiment)
The present invention relates to an end effector device attached to the tip of an arm of a plate-shaped member conveying robot. First, the entire plate-shaped member conveying robot will be described. Moreover, although a disk-shaped semiconductor wafer is illustrated below as a plate-shaped member, a plate-shaped member is not limited to this semiconductor wafer. For example, the plate member may be a glass substrate for a thin liquid crystal display or an organic EL display processed by a semiconductor process. Semiconductor wear is a substrate material for semiconductor devices, and includes silicon wafers, silicon carbide wafers, sapphire wafers, and the like.
In the following description, the vertical direction refers to the vertical direction.

図1は、板状部材搬送用ロボット2の全体斜視図である。板状部材搬送用ロボット2は、1枚又は複数枚の半導体ウエハを搬送するロボットであり、例えば所謂水平多関節型のロボットである。図1では図示の便宜上、板状部材搬送用ロボット2は1枚の半導体ウエハを搬送するロボットとして図示する。板状部材搬送用ロボット2及び後述するエンドエフェクタ装置1の動作は、図示されない制御装置によって制御される。
板状部材搬送用ロボット2は、例えば、床に固定される支持台22上に、昇降及び旋回可能なアーム支持軸23が設けられ、該アーム支持軸23の上端部に水平方向に延びたアーム20の一端部が取り付けられて構成されている。該アーム20はアーム支持軸23を中心として回転可能に設けられ、該アーム20上には基台21が重ねられている。該アーム20の他端部と基台21の一端部との間には上下方向に延びた軸体24が設けられ、基台21は軸体24の中心軸を中心として水平面内を回転可能に設けられている。
該基台21の自由端部(他端部)には、基台21の長手方向に沿う水平な移動軸線Lに沿って移動するハンド3が設けられている。以下の記載では、移動軸線Lに沿って基台21の自由端部に向かう方向を前方向、移動軸線Lに沿って基台21の基端部(軸体24側)に向かう方向を後方向と呼び、ハンド3の前方向及び後方向への移動を夫々前進及び後退と呼ぶ。また、ハンド3を前進又は後退させる機構には、エアシリンダ、ソレノイド等が用いられるが、それらは公知であるから、詳細な記載を省略する。
アーム20がアーム支持軸23を中心に回転し、基台21が軸体24を中心として水平面内を回転することにより、前記ハンド3は水平面内を移動し、前記アーム支持軸23の昇降によって高さ方向に動くことができる。
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a plate-like member conveying robot 2. The plate-shaped member transfer robot 2 is a robot that transfers one or more semiconductor wafers, for example, a so-called horizontal articulated robot. In FIG. 1, for convenience of illustration, the plate-shaped member transfer robot 2 is illustrated as a robot that transfers a single semiconductor wafer. The operations of the plate-shaped member transport robot 2 and the end effector device 1 described later are controlled by a control device (not shown).
The plate-like member transfer robot 2 includes, for example, an arm support shaft 23 that can be moved up and down and turned on a support base 22 fixed to a floor, and an arm that extends in the horizontal direction at the upper end of the arm support shaft 23. One end of 20 is attached and configured. The arm 20 is provided to be rotatable about an arm support shaft 23, and a base 21 is overlaid on the arm 20. A shaft body 24 extending in the vertical direction is provided between the other end portion of the arm 20 and one end portion of the base 21, and the base 21 can rotate in a horizontal plane around the central axis of the shaft body 24. Is provided.
A free end (other end) of the base 21 is provided with a hand 3 that moves along a horizontal movement axis L along the longitudinal direction of the base 21. In the following description, the direction toward the free end of the base 21 along the movement axis L is the forward direction, and the direction toward the base end (the shaft body 24 side) of the base 21 along the movement axis L is the backward direction. The forward and backward movements of the hand 3 are called forward and backward, respectively. Moreover, although an air cylinder, a solenoid, etc. are used for the mechanism which advances or retreats the hand 3, since these are well-known, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
As the arm 20 rotates about the arm support shaft 23 and the base 21 rotates about the shaft body 24 in the horizontal plane, the hand 3 moves in the horizontal plane, and the arm support shaft 23 moves up and down. Can move in the right direction.

ハンド3は平板状の部材であって、上面に半導体ウエハ9が載置される面である載置部30が形成されている。載置部30に半導体ウエハ9が載置された状態で、半導体ウエハ9の主面である上面は移動軸線Lに平行であって、水平面内に位置する。基台21上には、2本のピン状の固定位置決め部材6が基台21の幅方向に互いに離間して設けられており、ハンド3は基端部が両固定位置決め部材6の間を通って、前進又は後退する。なお、ハンド3は固定位置決め部材6に邪魔されずに前後方向に移動可能に設けられればよい。 The hand 3 is a flat plate member, and a mounting portion 30 is formed on the upper surface, which is a surface on which the semiconductor wafer 9 is mounted. In a state where the semiconductor wafer 9 is placed on the placement unit 30, the upper surface, which is the main surface of the semiconductor wafer 9, is parallel to the movement axis L and located in the horizontal plane. On the base 21, two pin-shaped fixed positioning members 6 are provided so as to be spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the base 21, and the base end portion of the hand 3 passes between the fixed positioning members 6. Move forward or backward. The hand 3 may be provided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction without being obstructed by the fixed positioning member 6.

図2は、図1の板状部材搬送用ロボット2をA方向から見た図である。基台21の先端面には、2つの開口25が基台21の幅方向に互いに離間して設けられている。該開口25の奥部には、基台21の長手方向(前後方向)に延びた長板状の受け部材4と該受け部材4の下側に位置するピン状の可動位置決め部材5が設けられている。図2に示す状態では、可動位置決め部材5は水平に延びた伏臥姿勢であり、該伏臥姿勢にてハンド3の載置部(載置面)30と略平行な収容位置に位置する。可動位置決め部材5は、例えば、移動軸線Lに沿って前進又は後退が可能である。後記の如く、可動位置決め部材5は後退状態で基台21内の収容位置に収納され、該後退状態から前進することにより、基台21の先端部から突出して起立姿勢を取ることができる。ハンド3と固定位置決め部材6と可動位置決め部材5とによって、板状部材搬送用ロボット2の先端部であるエンドエフェクタ装置1が構成される。
本実施形態では、受け部材4は基台21に対して固定されており、前後移動しない。
FIG. 2 is a view of the plate-shaped member transfer robot 2 of FIG. 1 as viewed from the A direction. Two openings 25 are provided in the distal end surface of the base 21 so as to be separated from each other in the width direction of the base 21. A deep plate-shaped receiving member 4 extending in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the base 21 and a pin-shaped movable positioning member 5 positioned below the receiving member 4 are provided at the back of the opening 25. ing. In the state shown in FIG. 2, the movable positioning member 5 has a prone posture that extends horizontally, and is located in a storage position that is substantially parallel to the placement portion (mounting surface) 30 of the hand 3 in the prone posture. The movable positioning member 5 can move forward or backward along the movement axis L, for example. As will be described later, the movable positioning member 5 is housed in the housing position in the base 21 in the retracted state, and can advance from the retracted state to project from the tip of the base 21 to take an upright posture. The hand 3, the fixed positioning member 6, and the movable positioning member 5 constitute an end effector device 1 that is the tip of the plate-shaped member transport robot 2.
In this embodiment, the receiving member 4 is fixed to the base 21 and does not move back and forth.

図3(a)は、ハンド3が前進した状態を、図3(b)は、ハンド3が後退した状態を示す平面図である。板状部材搬送用ロボット2は、ハンド3の前方に、半導体ウエハ9を収納した棚であるフープ8が位置するように動作する。ハンド3は前進した状態で、載置部30がフープ8内に収納された半導体ウエハ9の下面に対向するように位置する。アーム支持軸23が少し上昇して、半導体ウエハ9を持ち上げた後に、ハンド3は半導体ウエハ9を載置したまま後退して、図3(b)に示す位置(以下、基準位置と呼ぶ)に達する。ハンド3がこの基準位置に位置する状態において、半導体ウエハ9の周面が両固定位置決め部材6の周面に接する。
この固定位置決め部材6が半導体ウエハ9の周面に接した状態で、可動位置決め部材5は前進して伏臥姿勢から起立姿勢となり、周面が半導体ウエハ9の周面に接する。これにより、半導体ウエハ9はフープ8から取り出された状態にて水平面内における位置が正確な位置からずれていても、該位置ずれが補正され、所定位置に位置決めされる。この後、基台21及びアーム20が回転して半導体ウエハ9を他の場所に搬送する。
3A is a plan view showing a state in which the hand 3 has moved forward, and FIG. 3B is a plan view showing a state in which the hand 3 has moved backward. The plate-shaped member transfer robot 2 operates so that a hoop 8, which is a shelf storing the semiconductor wafer 9, is positioned in front of the hand 3. With the hand 3 in the advanced state, the placement unit 30 is positioned so as to face the lower surface of the semiconductor wafer 9 accommodated in the hoop 8. After the arm support shaft 23 is slightly raised and the semiconductor wafer 9 is lifted, the hand 3 is retracted with the semiconductor wafer 9 placed thereon to a position shown in FIG. 3B (hereinafter referred to as a reference position). Reach. In a state where the hand 3 is located at this reference position, the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9 is in contact with the peripheral surfaces of the fixed positioning members 6.
In a state where the fixed positioning member 6 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9, the movable positioning member 5 advances and changes from a prone posture to a standing posture, and the peripheral surface is in contact with the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9. As a result, even if the position of the semiconductor wafer 9 in the horizontal plane is deviated from an accurate position in a state where the semiconductor wafer 9 is taken out from the hoop 8, the position deviation is corrected and positioned at a predetermined position. Thereafter, the base 21 and the arm 20 are rotated to transport the semiconductor wafer 9 to another place.

一方、他の場所からフープ8に半導体ウエハ9を搬送する場合、基板搬送用ロボット2は、フープ8の前方にハンド3が位置するように動作する。そして、可動位置決め部材5を伏臥させて元の収容位置に後退させた後、ハンド3を前進させる。アーム支持軸23が下降して、位置決めされた半導体ウエハ9が該フープ内に載置される。その後、ハンド3が基準位置に後退する。尚、半導体ウエハ9を該フープ内に載置する際に、可動位置決め部材5がフープと干渉することがなければ、可動位置決め部材5を収容位置に収容する必要はない。   On the other hand, when the semiconductor wafer 9 is transferred from another place to the FOUP 8, the substrate transfer robot 2 operates so that the hand 3 is positioned in front of the FOUP 8. Then, after the movable positioning member 5 is prone and retracted to the original accommodation position, the hand 3 is advanced. The arm support shaft 23 is lowered, and the positioned semiconductor wafer 9 is placed in the hoop. Thereafter, the hand 3 moves backward to the reference position. When the semiconductor wafer 9 is placed in the hoop, the movable positioning member 5 does not need to be accommodated in the accommodation position unless the movable positioning member 5 interferes with the hoop.

<可動位置決め部材を移動させる機構の詳細>
可動位置決め部材5を伏臥姿勢から起立姿勢に移行させる機構の一例を以下に説明する。図4(a)、(b)、(c)は、図2の基台21をB―B線を含む面にて破断し矢視した側面断面図であり、図5は図4のC部の拡大図である。図2の両可動位置決め部材5は互いに同じ構成を有しており、図4(a)、(b)、(c)では、図2の右側の可動位置決め部材5を示す。図4(a)、(b)、(c)においては、便宜上、ハンド3の図示を省略している。
可動位置決め部材5の後方であって、受け部材4の下側には、エアシリンダ7が設けられている。該エアシリンダ7はハウジング71及びピストン72を含み、ハウジング71からピストン72を水平面内にて出没自在に設けて構成される。該ハウジング71は受け部材4の下面に取り付けられ、本実施形態にあっては、該ハウジング71は前後移動しない。ピストン72の先端部には該ピストン72の延在方向に略直交する縦長(上下方向に長い)の長孔73が開設されている。
可動位置決め部材5の後端部には、当て部材50が設けられ、該当て部材50の上端部には水平な中心軸L1の周りに回転可能な当てローラ51が、下端部には水平方向に突出する小軸52が夫々設けられている。図5に示すように、可動位置決め部材5の小軸52はピストン72の長孔73に上下方向に移動自在に嵌まっており、これにより、エアシリンダ7と可動位置決め部材5とが互いに水平な軸線周りに回動自在に連結される。受け部材4の先端部からは当て壁40が下向きに突出し、後記の如く、該当て壁40の内面に当てローラ51が当接する。図4(a)は、可動位置決め部材5が後退した状態を示している。この状態では、可動位置決め部材5は伏臥姿勢にて基台21内に収納されて、小軸52は長孔73の下端部に位置する。
<Details of the mechanism for moving the movable positioning member>
An example of a mechanism for moving the movable positioning member 5 from the prone posture to the standing posture will be described below. 4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c) are side cross-sectional views of the base 21 in FIG. 2 taken along the plane including the line BB and viewed from the direction of the arrow, and FIG. FIG. Both movable positioning members 5 in FIG. 2 have the same configuration, and FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c) show the movable positioning member 5 on the right side in FIG. 4 (a), (b), and (c), the hand 3 is not shown for convenience.
An air cylinder 7 is provided behind the movable positioning member 5 and below the receiving member 4. The air cylinder 7 includes a housing 71 and a piston 72, and the piston 72 is provided from the housing 71 so as to be able to protrude and retract in a horizontal plane. The housing 71 is attached to the lower surface of the receiving member 4. In the present embodiment, the housing 71 does not move back and forth. A longitudinally long (long in the vertical direction) elongated hole 73 that is substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the piston 72 is formed at the tip of the piston 72.
The rear end portion of the movable positioning member 5 is provided with a contact member 50. The corresponding upper end portion of the member 50 is provided with a contact roller 51 that can rotate around a horizontal central axis L1, and the lower end portion thereof in the horizontal direction. Each projecting small shaft 52 is provided. As shown in FIG. 5, the small shaft 52 of the movable positioning member 5 is fitted in the elongated hole 73 of the piston 72 so as to be movable in the vertical direction, so that the air cylinder 7 and the movable positioning member 5 are horizontal to each other. It is connected so as to be rotatable around an axis. The abutting wall 40 protrudes downward from the tip of the receiving member 4, and the abutting roller 51 abuts against the inner surface of the wall 40 as described later. FIG. 4A shows a state where the movable positioning member 5 is retracted. In this state, the movable positioning member 5 is housed in the base 21 in a prone posture, and the small shaft 52 is located at the lower end of the long hole 73.

図4(a)に示す状態から、ピストン72がハウジング71から突出すると、ピストン72の長孔73の周縁にて小軸52が押されて可動位置決め部材5が前進する。図4(b)に示すように、当てローラ51が当て壁40の内面に当接する。可動位置決め部材5はそれ以上の前進を規制される。
更に、ピストン72がハウジング71から突出すると、可動位置決め部材5は前進を規制されているから、可動位置決め部材5は当てローラ51の中心軸L1を中心として、上向きに回動する。この当てローラ51の中心軸L1は、前記の移動軸線Lに直交し、半導体ウエハ9の上面に平行な軸である。
可動位置決め部材5が上向き回動するから、小軸52は長孔73の上端部に移動する。可動位置決め部材5は図4(c)に示す起立姿勢となり、前記の如く、可動位置決め部材5の周面が半導体ウエハ9の周面に当接する。換言すれば、可動位置決め部材5は伏臥姿勢から起立姿勢に回転して、半導体ウエハ9の周面に当接する。これにより、半導体ウエハ9が水平面内にて所定位置に位置決めされる。上記の如く、エアシリンダ7の動作によって、可動位置決め部材5は伏臥姿勢と起立姿勢との間を回動する。即ち、エアシリンダ7は本発明の「駆動機構」を構成する。
When the piston 72 protrudes from the housing 71 from the state shown in FIG. 4A, the small shaft 52 is pushed at the peripheral edge of the long hole 73 of the piston 72 and the movable positioning member 5 advances. As shown in FIG. 4B, the contact roller 51 contacts the inner surface of the contact wall 40. The movable positioning member 5 is restricted from further advancement.
Further, when the piston 72 protrudes from the housing 71, the movable positioning member 5 is restricted from moving forward, so that the movable positioning member 5 rotates upward about the central axis L <b> 1 of the contact roller 51. The center axis L 1 of the contact roller 51 is an axis that is orthogonal to the movement axis L and is parallel to the upper surface of the semiconductor wafer 9.
Since the movable positioning member 5 rotates upward, the small shaft 52 moves to the upper end portion of the long hole 73. The movable positioning member 5 is in the standing posture shown in FIG. 4 (c), and the peripheral surface of the movable positioning member 5 contacts the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9 as described above. In other words, the movable positioning member 5 rotates from the prone posture to the standing posture and contacts the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9. Thereby, the semiconductor wafer 9 is positioned at a predetermined position in the horizontal plane. As described above, the movable positioning member 5 is rotated between the prone posture and the standing posture by the operation of the air cylinder 7. That is, the air cylinder 7 constitutes the “drive mechanism” of the present invention.

可動位置決め部材5を起立姿勢から伏臥姿勢に戻すには、ピストン72をハウジング71内に引っ込める。すると、可動位置決め部材5は当てローラ51の中心軸L1を中心に下向きに回転し、図4(b)に示す伏臥姿勢となる。更に、ピストン72を引っ込めると、図4(a)に示すように、可動位置決め部材5は受け部材4の下側の収容位置に位置する。
本実施形態では、ハンド3を後退させ、固定位置決め部材6が半導体ウエハ9の周面に接した状態で、可動位置決め部材5を起立させて、半導体ウエハ9を水平面内において位置決めしている。これにより、簡素な機構にて、半導体ウエハ9の位置決めができる。また、ハンド3は簡素な構成で済む。また、可動位置決め部材5と固定位置決め部材6との間で、半導体ウエハ9がエッジグリップ状態となって把持されるから、アーム20の搬送時に半導体ウエハ9がハンド3から位置ずれしない。ここで、エッジグリップとは2つの互いに対向する部材にて、板状部材の周縁部を該板状部材の上面に平行な面内にて押圧挟持して保持することを指す。
また、ハンド3が前進してフープ8から半導体ウエハ9を取り出す際には、可動位置決め部材5は伏臥姿勢を取っているから、可動位置決め部材5はハンド3の載置部30に半導体ウエハ9が載置されることを邪魔しない。
In order to return the movable positioning member 5 from the standing posture to the prone posture, the piston 72 is retracted into the housing 71. Then, the movable positioning member 5 rotates downward about the central axis L1 of the contact roller 51, and assumes a prone posture shown in FIG. Further, when the piston 72 is retracted, the movable positioning member 5 is positioned at the lower receiving position of the receiving member 4 as shown in FIG.
In the present embodiment, the hand 3 is moved backward, and the movable positioning member 5 is erected in a state where the fixed positioning member 6 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9 to position the semiconductor wafer 9 in the horizontal plane. Thereby, the semiconductor wafer 9 can be positioned by a simple mechanism. Further, the hand 3 may have a simple configuration. Further, since the semiconductor wafer 9 is held in an edge grip state between the movable positioning member 5 and the fixed positioning member 6, the semiconductor wafer 9 is not displaced from the hand 3 when the arm 20 is transported. Here, the edge grip means that two peripheral members oppose each other and press and hold the peripheral edge of the plate member in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the plate member.
Further, when the hand 3 moves forward and takes out the semiconductor wafer 9 from the hoop 8, the movable positioning member 5 takes a prone posture, so that the movable positioning member 5 is placed on the mounting portion 30 of the hand 3. Do not disturb the placement.

<変形例>
図6(a)、(b)は、可動位置決め部材5を伏臥姿勢と起立姿勢との間にて回動させる機構の変形例を示す側面断面図である。可動位置決め部材5の後端部はピストン72の先端部にピストン72の延在方向に略直交し且つ水平方向に延びる軸線周りに回動可能に取り付けられ、該取り付け箇所に可動位置決め部材5を上向きに付勢するネジリバネ53が設けられている。受け部材4の下面には、下端が可動位置決め部材5に接する複数の案内ローラ54が互いに前後に離間して取り付けられ、図6(a)に示すように、ピストン72がハウジング71内に引っ込んだ状態で可動位置決め部材5は案内ローラ54によって上向き回動を抑えられて、ネジリバネ53に抗して伏臥姿勢を保つ。
図6(b)に示すように、ピストン72がハウジング71から突出すると、可動位置決め部材5が前方に押されて、徐々に案内ローラ54との接触から離れていく。可動位置決め部材5が案内ローラ54との接触から完全に離れると、ネジリバネ53の付勢力によって可動位置決め部材5は起立姿勢となる。
可動位置決め部材5を伏臥位置に移動させるには、図6(b)に示す状態からピストン72をハウジング71内に引っ込めれば、ネジリバネ53の付勢力に抗して可動位置決め部材5は伏臥姿勢になる。
<Modification>
FIGS. 6A and 6B are side sectional views showing a modification of the mechanism for rotating the movable positioning member 5 between the prone posture and the standing posture. The rear end portion of the movable positioning member 5 is attached to the tip end portion of the piston 72 so as to be rotatable around an axis extending substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the piston 72 and extending in the horizontal direction, and the movable positioning member 5 is directed upward at the attachment location. A torsion spring 53 is provided to urge the spring. A plurality of guide rollers 54 whose lower ends are in contact with the movable positioning member 5 are attached to the lower surface of the receiving member 4 so as to be separated from each other in the front-rear direction, and the piston 72 is retracted into the housing 71 as shown in FIG. In this state, the movable positioning member 5 is restrained from turning upward by the guide roller 54 and maintains the prone posture against the torsion spring 53.
As shown in FIG. 6B, when the piston 72 protrudes from the housing 71, the movable positioning member 5 is pushed forward and gradually leaves the contact with the guide roller 54. When the movable positioning member 5 is completely separated from the contact with the guide roller 54, the movable positioning member 5 assumes an upright posture by the biasing force of the torsion spring 53.
In order to move the movable positioning member 5 to the prone position, if the piston 72 is retracted into the housing 71 from the state shown in FIG. 6B, the movable positioning member 5 assumes the prone posture against the biasing force of the torsion spring 53. Become.

(第2の実施形態)
本実施形態では、受け部材4が前進及び後退可能であり、エアシリンダ7のハウジング71は基台21に固定されている。可動位置決め部材5は伏臥姿勢から起立した状態では、半導体ウエハ9の周面から離間している。
可動位置決め部材5は、図7(a)に示すように、起立姿勢にて半導体ウエハ9の周面から前方に離間した位置と、図7(b)に示すように、起立姿勢にて半導体ウエハ9の周面に接した位置との間を前後に移動可能に設けられている。図7(b)に示すように、可動位置決め部材5が半導体ウエハ9の周面に接した位置を可動位置決め部材5の第1の位置とする。図7(a)に示すように、可動位置決め部材5が半導体ウエハ9の周面の前方に離間した位置を可動位置決め部材5の第2の位置とする。即ち、本実施形態における可動位置決め部材5の前後方向の移動が、本発明における可動位置決め部材5の「基台に対する相対運動」に相当する。半導体ウエハ9を水平面内にて位置決めする際には、可動位置決め部材5を一旦第2の位置(図7(a))に位置させ、その後ピストン72を後退させて、可動位置決め部材5を第1の位置(図7(b))に位置させる。
(Second Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the receiving member 4 can move forward and backward, and the housing 71 of the air cylinder 7 is fixed to the base 21. The movable positioning member 5 is separated from the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9 in a state where the movable positioning member 5 stands from the prone posture.
As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the movable positioning member 5 is located at a position spaced forward from the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9 in the standing posture, and as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the movable positioning member 5 is in the standing posture. 9 is provided so as to be movable back and forth between positions in contact with the peripheral surface of 9. As shown in FIG. 7B, the position where the movable positioning member 5 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9 is the first position of the movable positioning member 5. As shown in FIG. 7A, a position where the movable positioning member 5 is separated forward of the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9 is defined as a second position of the movable positioning member 5. That is, the movement in the front-rear direction of the movable positioning member 5 in the present embodiment corresponds to “relative movement with respect to the base” of the movable positioning member 5 in the present invention. When positioning the semiconductor wafer 9 in the horizontal plane, the movable positioning member 5 is temporarily positioned at the second position (FIG. 7A), and then the piston 72 is retracted to move the movable positioning member 5 to the first position. (Fig. 7 (b)).

図8(a)、(b)及び図9(a)、(b)は、可動位置決め部材5の動作を示す側面断面図である。ハンド3がフープ8から半導体ウエハ9を取り出して、ハンド3が後退した位置にあっては、図8(a)に示すように、可動位置決め部材5は伏臥姿勢にあって、受け部材4及び可動位置決め部材5は基台21内に引っ込んでいる。
図8(a)に示す状態から、半導体ウエハ9を水平面内にて位置決めするには、図8(b)に示すように、ピストン72をハウジング71から突出させるとともに、受け部材4を前進させる。受け部材4の前進量は、ピストン72の突出量よりも小さい。故に、図8(b)に示すように、当てローラ51が当て壁40の内面に接する。可動位置決め部材5はそれ以上の前進を規制される。
FIGS. 8A and 8B and FIGS. 9A and 9B are side sectional views showing the operation of the movable positioning member 5. When the hand 3 takes out the semiconductor wafer 9 from the hoop 8 and the hand 3 is retracted, as shown in FIG. 8A, the movable positioning member 5 is in the prone posture, and the receiving member 4 and the movable member 3 are movable. The positioning member 5 is retracted into the base 21.
To position the semiconductor wafer 9 in the horizontal plane from the state shown in FIG. 8A, the piston 72 is protruded from the housing 71 and the receiving member 4 is advanced as shown in FIG. 8B. The forward movement amount of the receiving member 4 is smaller than the protrusion amount of the piston 72. Therefore, the contact roller 51 contacts the inner surface of the contact wall 40 as shown in FIG. The movable positioning member 5 is restricted from further advancement.

受け部材4が停止した状態で、更にピストン72がハウジング71から突出すると、可動位置決め部材5は前進を規制されているから、可動位置決め部材5は当てローラ51を中心として、図9(a)に示すように、上向きに回動する。可動位置決め部材5は半導体ウエハ9の周面から前方に離間した第2の位置に達する。
次に、ピストン72及び受け部材4を、互いに同じ移動量だけ後退させる。図9(b)に示すように、可動位置決め部材5は起立姿勢を保ったまま、周面が半導体ウエハ9の周面に接する第1の位置に達する。これにより、半導体ウエハ9の水平面内における位置決めがされる。尚、可動位置決め部材5が半導体ウエハ9の周面に接した後に、ピストン72及び受け部材4を更に引き込もうとすると、可動位置決め部材5と半導体ウエハ9との当接によって、ピストン72の後退が規制されるから、ピストン72を引き込む負荷が大きくなる。これにより、可動位置決め部材5が、半導体ウエハ9の周面に接したことを検出することができる。
When the piston 72 further protrudes from the housing 71 in a state where the receiving member 4 is stopped, the movable positioning member 5 is restricted from moving forward. Therefore, the movable positioning member 5 is centered on the contact roller 51 as shown in FIG. As shown, it pivots upward. The movable positioning member 5 reaches a second position spaced forward from the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9.
Next, the piston 72 and the receiving member 4 are moved backward by the same movement amount. As shown in FIG. 9B, the movable positioning member 5 reaches the first position where the peripheral surface is in contact with the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9 while maintaining the standing posture. As a result, the semiconductor wafer 9 is positioned in the horizontal plane. If the piston 72 and the receiving member 4 are further pulled after the movable positioning member 5 comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9, the backward movement of the piston 72 is restricted by the contact between the movable positioning member 5 and the semiconductor wafer 9. Therefore, the load for pulling the piston 72 increases. Thereby, it can be detected that the movable positioning member 5 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9.

可動位置決め部材5を起立姿勢から伏臥姿勢に戻すには、図9(b)に示す状態から受け部材4を移動させずに、ピストン72をハウジング71内に引っ込める。
或いは、図9(b)に示す状態から図8(a)に示す状態まで、逆の動作を行う。
本実施形態にあっては、可動位置決め部材5は第2の位置から水平面内を後退して、半導体ウエハ9の周面に接するから、半導体ウエハ9を水平面内にてより正確に位置決めすることができる。ピストン72及び可動位置決め部材5を低速で後退させれば、可動位置決め部材5が半導体ウエハ9に当接した際に、半導体ウエハ9を傷つける可能性は少ない。
可動位置決め部材5を回動させる機構として、図8(a)、(b)、図9(a)、(b)に示した機構に代えて、図6(a)、(b)に示したように、ピストン72と可動位置決め部材5との間にネジリバネ53を設けた機構を用いてもよい。
To return the movable positioning member 5 from the standing posture to the prone posture, the piston 72 is retracted into the housing 71 without moving the receiving member 4 from the state shown in FIG.
Alternatively, the reverse operation is performed from the state shown in FIG. 9B to the state shown in FIG.
In the present embodiment, since the movable positioning member 5 moves back in the horizontal plane from the second position and contacts the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9, the semiconductor wafer 9 can be positioned more accurately in the horizontal plane. it can. If the piston 72 and the movable positioning member 5 are retracted at a low speed, there is little possibility that the semiconductor wafer 9 will be damaged when the movable positioning member 5 contacts the semiconductor wafer 9.
As a mechanism for rotating the movable positioning member 5, the mechanisms shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are used instead of the mechanisms shown in FIGS. 8 (a), 8 (b), 9 (a) and 9 (b). As described above, a mechanism in which a torsion spring 53 is provided between the piston 72 and the movable positioning member 5 may be used.

上記記載では、基台21はアーム20の一端部に取り付けられているとしたが、ロボットアーム(図示せず)の先端部に取り付けられていてもよい。また、基台21は該ロボットアームと一体的に形成されてもよい。また、固定位置決め部材6と可動位置決め部材5はピン状であるとしたが、半導体ウエハ9の周面を押圧することができれば形状は問わない。例えば、固定位置決め部材6と可動位置決め部材5はパッド状であってもよい。また、固定位置決め部材6と可動位置決め部材5の材質は、半導体ウエハ9の周面を傷つけないものであればよい。
また、上記記載では、可動位置決め部材6と固定位置決め部材5は、2つずつ設けられているとしたが、夫々1つ以上設けられていればよい。但し、半導体ウエハ9を水平面内にて位置決めするには、半導体ウエハ9の周縁に対し、3つ以上の点で接触することが必要であるから、可動位置決め部材6と固定位置決め部材5は、合わせて3点以上で接触するように設けられていることが必要である。
また、可動位置決め部材6及び固定位置決め部材5がピン形状である場合には、それらが3本以上設けられていることが必要である。
また、載置部30は移動軸線Lに平行であるとしたが、傾いていてもよい。更に、可動位置決め部材6の前進及び後退方向は、移動軸線Lと平行であっても、傾いてもよい。
In the above description, the base 21 is attached to one end of the arm 20, but may be attached to the tip of a robot arm (not shown). The base 21 may be formed integrally with the robot arm. Further, although the fixed positioning member 6 and the movable positioning member 5 are pin-shaped, the shape is not limited as long as the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9 can be pressed. For example, the fixed positioning member 6 and the movable positioning member 5 may be pad-shaped. The material of the fixed positioning member 6 and the movable positioning member 5 may be any material that does not damage the peripheral surface of the semiconductor wafer 9.
Further, in the above description, two movable positioning members 6 and two fixed positioning members 5 are provided, but one or more each may be provided. However, in order to position the semiconductor wafer 9 in the horizontal plane, it is necessary to contact the peripheral edge of the semiconductor wafer 9 at three or more points. Therefore, the movable positioning member 6 and the fixed positioning member 5 must be aligned. It is necessary to be provided so as to contact at three points or more.
Moreover, when the movable positioning member 6 and the fixed positioning member 5 are pin-shaped, it is necessary to provide three or more of them.
Further, although the placement unit 30 is parallel to the movement axis L, it may be inclined. Further, the forward and backward directions of the movable positioning member 6 may be parallel to the movement axis L or inclined.

本発明は、ハンドの載置部に平行な面内にて、板状部材の位置決めを行うエンドエフェクタ装置に有用である。 INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful for an end effector device that positions a plate-like member in a plane parallel to a placement part of a hand.

1 エンドエフェクタ装置
2 板状部材搬送用ロボット
3 ハンド
4 受け部材
5 可動位置決め部材
6 固定位置決め部材
9 半導体ウエハ
20 アーム
21 基台
30 載置部
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 End effector apparatus 2 Plate-shaped member conveyance robot 3 Hand 4 Receiving member 5 Movable positioning member 6 Fixed positioning member 9 Semiconductor wafer 20 Arm 21 Base 30 Mounting part

Claims (6)

ロボットアームの一端部に設けられる基台と、
少なくとも1枚の板状部材を載置可能な載置部を含み、所定の移動軸線に沿って、前記基台に対して移動可能に前記基台上に設けられたハンドと、
前記ハンドの載置部に載置された前記板状部材の前記移動軸線における一方の側の周縁に接するように前記基台に立設された少なくとも1つの固定位置決め部材と、
起伏又は起伏及び前記基台に対する相対移動を含む運動が可能なように且つ前記運動により起立した姿勢で前記板状部材の前記移動軸線における他方の側の周縁に接するように構成されて前記基台に設けられた少なくとも1つの可動位置決め部材と、
を備える、エンドエフェクタ装置。
A base provided at one end of the robot arm;
A hand provided on the base so as to be movable with respect to the base along a predetermined movement axis, including a placement portion on which at least one plate-like member can be placed;
At least one fixed positioning member erected on the base so as to be in contact with a peripheral edge on one side of the moving axis of the plate-like member placed on the placement portion of the hand;
The base configured so as to be capable of movement including undulation or undulation and relative movement with respect to the base, and in contact with the peripheral edge on the other side of the moving axis of the plate-like member in a posture standing by the movement At least one movable positioning member provided on
An end effector device.
前記載置部は、載置される板状部材の主面が前記移動軸線に平行になるように設けられ、
前記可動位置決め部材は、前記板状部材の主面に平行な軸の周りに回動可能に設けられ、前記板状部材の主面に略垂直な起立姿勢と、該起立姿勢から回動して載置面に略平行な伏臥姿勢とを取ることが可能に構成され、
更に、該可動位置決め部材を前記起立姿勢と前記伏臥姿勢との間で回動させる駆動機構を備えた、請求項1に記載のエンドエフェクタ装置。
The mounting portion is provided so that a main surface of the plate-like member to be placed is parallel to the movement axis,
The movable positioning member is provided so as to be rotatable around an axis parallel to the main surface of the plate-like member, and stands upright substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the plate-like member, and rotates from the upright posture. It is configured to be able to take a prone posture substantially parallel to the mounting surface,
The end effector device according to claim 1, further comprising a drive mechanism for rotating the movable positioning member between the standing posture and the prone posture.
前記可動位置決め部材は、前記固定位置決め部材に周面が接している板状部材の周縁に起立姿勢で接する第1の位置と、前記第1の位置から離間した第2の位置との間を移動可能であり、且つ前記第2の位置で伏臥姿勢から起立姿勢を取り、その後、前記第1の位置に移動するよう構成されている、請求項2に記載のエンドエフェクタ装置。 The movable positioning member moves between a first position where the peripheral surface of the plate-like member, whose peripheral surface is in contact with the fixed positioning member, is in a standing posture and a second position which is separated from the first position. The end effector device according to claim 2, wherein the end effector device is configured to be capable of taking a standing posture from a prone posture at the second position and then moving to the first position. 前記可動位置決め部材は、前記固定位置決め部材に周面が接している板状部材の周縁に起立姿勢で接する位置において、伏臥姿勢から起立姿勢を取り、それにより前記板状部材の周縁に接するよう構成されている、請求項2に記載のエンドエフェクタ装置。 The movable positioning member is configured to take an upright posture from a prone posture at a position where the peripheral surface of the plate-shaped member that is in contact with the fixed positioning member is in a standing posture, thereby contacting the peripheral edge of the plate-shaped member. The end effector device according to claim 2, wherein ロボットアームの先端部に設けられる基台と、
少なくとも1枚の板状部材が載置される載置部を含み、所定の移動軸線に沿って、前記基台に対して移動可能に前記基台上に設けられたハンドと、
前記ハンドの載置部に載置された前記板状部材の前記移動軸線における一方の側の周縁に接するように前記基台に立設された少なくとも1つの固定位置決め部材と、
起伏又は起伏及び前記基台に対する相対移動を含む運動が可能なように且つ前記運動により起立した姿勢で前記板状部材の前記移動軸線における他方の側の周縁に接するように構成されて前記基台に設けられた少なくとも1つの可動位置決め部材と、を備えたエンドエフェクタ装置を用いた板状部材の位置決め方法であって、
周面が前記板状部材の周縁から離間するように可動位置決め部材を起立させる工程と、
前記可動位置決め部材の起立姿勢のまま、前記ハンド及び前記可動位置決め部材を移動軸線に沿って移動させ、前記可動位置決め部材の周面及び前記固定位置決め部材の周面を板状部材の周縁に当接させる工程と、
を含む板状部材の位置決め方法。
A base provided at the tip of the robot arm;
A hand provided on the base so as to be movable with respect to the base along a predetermined movement axis, including a placement portion on which at least one plate-like member is placed;
At least one fixed positioning member erected on the base so as to be in contact with a peripheral edge on one side of the moving axis of the plate-like member placed on the placement portion of the hand;
The base configured so as to be capable of movement including undulation or undulation and relative movement with respect to the base, and in contact with the peripheral edge on the other side of the moving axis of the plate-like member in a posture standing by the movement A plate-shaped member positioning method using an end effector device comprising: at least one movable positioning member provided in
Erecting the movable positioning member such that the peripheral surface is separated from the peripheral edge of the plate-like member;
With the movable positioning member standing, the hand and the movable positioning member are moved along the movement axis, and the peripheral surface of the movable positioning member and the peripheral surface of the fixed positioning member are brought into contact with the peripheral edge of the plate-like member. A process of
A method for positioning a plate-like member.
ロボットアームの先端部に設けられる基台と、
少なくとも1枚の板状部材が載置される載置部を含み、所定の移動軸線に沿って、前記基台に対して移動可能に前記基台上に設けられたハンドと、
前記ハンドの載置部に載置された前記板状部材の前記移動軸線における一方の側の周縁に接するように前記基台に立設された少なくとも1つの固定位置決め部材と、
起伏又は起伏及び前記基台に対する相対移動を含む運動が可能なように且つ前記運動により起立した姿勢で前記板状部材の前記移動軸線における他方の側の周縁に接するように構成されて前記基台に設けられた少なくとも1つの可動位置決め部材と、を備えたエンドエフェクタ装置を用いた板状部材の位置決め方法であって、
前記固定位置決め部材の周面が板状部材の周縁に当接する位置に前記ハンドを移動させる工程と、
前記可動位置決め部材を伏臥姿勢から起立させ、周面を板状部材の周縁に当接させる工程と、
を含む板状部材の位置決め方法。
A base provided at the tip of the robot arm;
A hand provided on the base so as to be movable with respect to the base along a predetermined movement axis, including a placement portion on which at least one plate-like member is placed;
At least one fixed positioning member erected on the base so as to be in contact with a peripheral edge on one side of the moving axis of the plate-like member placed on the placement portion of the hand;
The base configured so as to be capable of movement including undulation or undulation and relative movement with respect to the base, and in contact with the peripheral edge on the other side of the moving axis of the plate-like member in a posture standing by the movement A plate-shaped member positioning method using an end effector device comprising: at least one movable positioning member provided in
Moving the hand to a position where the peripheral surface of the fixed positioning member contacts the peripheral edge of the plate-like member;
Erecting the movable positioning member from the prone posture, contacting the peripheral surface with the peripheral edge of the plate-like member;
A method for positioning a plate-like member.
JP2012271126A 2012-12-12 2012-12-12 End effector device and plate member positioning method using the end effector device Active JP6116088B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2012271126A JP6116088B2 (en) 2012-12-12 2012-12-12 End effector device and plate member positioning method using the end effector device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2012271126A JP6116088B2 (en) 2012-12-12 2012-12-12 End effector device and plate member positioning method using the end effector device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JP2014116536A true JP2014116536A (en) 2014-06-26
JP6116088B2 JP6116088B2 (en) 2017-04-19

Family

ID=51172221

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP2012271126A Active JP6116088B2 (en) 2012-12-12 2012-12-12 End effector device and plate member positioning method using the end effector device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JP6116088B2 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2017076679A (en) * 2015-10-14 2017-04-20 ローツェ株式会社 End effector for tape frame transfer and transfer robot equipped with the same
JP2019038069A (en) * 2017-08-25 2019-03-14 ダイハツ工業株式会社 Transfer device

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6357190A (en) * 1986-08-29 1988-03-11 キヤノン株式会社 Joint arm device for moving body
JPH0722502A (en) * 1993-06-30 1995-01-24 Hitachi Ltd Handling unit for semiconductor wafer
JPH10261699A (en) * 1997-03-21 1998-09-29 Sankyo Seiki Mfg Co Ltd Chuck device for disc-like board
JPH11106045A (en) * 1997-10-02 1999-04-20 Dainippon Screen Mfg Co Ltd Substrate holding device and substrate carrier device provided with the same
JP2000252343A (en) * 1999-03-01 2000-09-14 Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd Method, device, and arm for transporting substrate
JP2001210707A (en) * 2000-01-26 2001-08-03 Komatsu Ltd Edge handling device of semiconductor wafer
JP2002520240A (en) * 1998-07-10 2002-07-09 オーヴィル・レイ・ホルブルックス Wafer handling apparatus and method having identification function

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6357190A (en) * 1986-08-29 1988-03-11 キヤノン株式会社 Joint arm device for moving body
JPH0722502A (en) * 1993-06-30 1995-01-24 Hitachi Ltd Handling unit for semiconductor wafer
JPH10261699A (en) * 1997-03-21 1998-09-29 Sankyo Seiki Mfg Co Ltd Chuck device for disc-like board
JPH11106045A (en) * 1997-10-02 1999-04-20 Dainippon Screen Mfg Co Ltd Substrate holding device and substrate carrier device provided with the same
JP2002520240A (en) * 1998-07-10 2002-07-09 オーヴィル・レイ・ホルブルックス Wafer handling apparatus and method having identification function
JP2000252343A (en) * 1999-03-01 2000-09-14 Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd Method, device, and arm for transporting substrate
JP2001210707A (en) * 2000-01-26 2001-08-03 Komatsu Ltd Edge handling device of semiconductor wafer

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2017076679A (en) * 2015-10-14 2017-04-20 ローツェ株式会社 End effector for tape frame transfer and transfer robot equipped with the same
JP2019038069A (en) * 2017-08-25 2019-03-14 ダイハツ工業株式会社 Transfer device
JP7002173B2 (en) 2017-08-25 2022-01-20 ダイハツ工業株式会社 Transfer device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP6116088B2 (en) 2017-04-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
TWI403398B (en) Work holding mechanism
CN107275268B (en) Robot unit and transfer method
CN108656123B (en) Industrial robot
JP2010525608A (en) Inertial wafer centering end effector and transfer device
KR101495241B1 (en) Transportation robot, substrate transportation method therefor, and substrate transportation relay apparatus
JP6309756B2 (en) End effector device
KR102512399B1 (en) Substrate holding device
JP2010179420A (en) Industrial robot
JP5303301B2 (en) Industrial robot
US20190148210A1 (en) Substrate transfer hand and robot
KR101915878B1 (en) Substrate transfer teaching method and substrate processing system
JP2009168860A (en) Stage device for substrate
JP5913845B2 (en) Conveying device and conveying method for plate member
JP4697211B2 (en) Conveying robot having substrate alignment mechanism and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus or substrate inspection apparatus having the same
JP6116088B2 (en) End effector device and plate member positioning method using the end effector device
JP2006120861A (en) Tilt correction device and conveyance robot equipped with the same
JPH11284059A (en) Semiconductor wafer holding device
KR102597834B1 (en) Industrial robot
JP5827046B2 (en) Plate member support device and support method, and plate member transport device
KR20110065538A (en) Prealigner
JP5909105B2 (en) End effector for transporting plate-like member and substrate transport robot including the end effector
JP2019033220A (en) Substrate carrying device
CN111605936A (en) Transfer device and stacker crane
JP4452144B2 (en) Electronic circuit component mounting machine
JP2008235736A (en) Carrying device and carrying method

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
RD02 Notification of acceptance of power of attorney

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A7422

Effective date: 20150312

RD04 Notification of resignation of power of attorney

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A7424

Effective date: 20150316

A521 Written amendment

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A821

Effective date: 20150313

A621 Written request for application examination

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A621

Effective date: 20151013

A977 Report on retrieval

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A971007

Effective date: 20160818

A131 Notification of reasons for refusal

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A131

Effective date: 20160824

A601 Written request for extension of time

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A601

Effective date: 20161024

A521 Written amendment

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A523

Effective date: 20161216

TRDD Decision of grant or rejection written
A01 Written decision to grant a patent or to grant a registration (utility model)

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A01

Effective date: 20170221

A61 First payment of annual fees (during grant procedure)

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A61

Effective date: 20170320

R150 Certificate of patent or registration of utility model

Ref document number: 6116088

Country of ref document: JP

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: R150