US20220281640A1

US20220281640A1 - Adjustable device and an adjustable storage box

Info

Publication number: US20220281640A1
Application number: US17/751,104
Authority: US
Inventors: Shih Feng PAN
Original assignee: Dly Technologies Inc
Current assignee: Dly Technologies Inc
Priority date: 2020-08-12
Filing date: 2022-05-23
Publication date: 2022-09-08

Abstract

The disclosure provides an adjustable device including plates and at least two adjustable modules connect with two adjacent of the plates. The adjustable module can stretch or shrink to change a distance between plates. The disclosure also provides an adjustable storage box including an upper cover and a lower cover. A storage space is formed by the upper cover and the lower cover and for the accommodating of the adjustable device. When the upper cover moves upward relative to the lower cover, the adjustable modules changes from a compression state to a stretch state and increase a distance between plates. Whereby, it is easy to pick and place object when a distance of two adjacent plates increases. The overall volume of the adjustable device is reduced when a distance of two adjacent plates decrease, thereby saving the working space.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority as a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/398,685, filed Aug. 10, 2021, entitled “Adjustable device and an adjustable storage box”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to an adjustable device and an adjustable storage box for accommodating the adjustable device.

BACKGROUND

The storage and transfer of a wafer in semiconductor industry is very important. Because a wafer is formed by fragile material like silicon or glass, it is easy to cause damage due to improper transfer method or handling tool, then resulting in a significant increase of cost and time. In convention, for the purpose of transporting a number of wafers at one time and saving storage space, it's usually achieved in a stacking manner. However, the stored wafers are at a fixed distance so that a size of occupation of wafer storage box is large.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an adjustable device. The adjustable device can accommodate many objects and can shrink to reduce a size of occupation. The present disclosure also provides an adjustable storage box for accommodating the adjustable device.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. The present disclosure provides an adjustable device including plates which are arranged vertically. At least two adjustable modules connect with two adjacent of the plates. The at least two adjustable modules stretch to adjust distance between the two adjacent of the plates.
The present invention has been made in view of the aforementioned problems. The present disclosure provides an adjustable storage box for accommodating the adjustable device. The adjustable storage box includes an upper cover, a handle arranged on the upper cover, and a lower cover disposed under the upper cover. A storage space is formed by the upper cover and the lower cover. The upper cover is connected to the upmost plate of the adjustable device. The upper cover is movably covered on the lower cover, and the lower cover is connected to the lowest plate of the adjustable device. The storage space is for accommodating the adjustable device. wherein, when the upper cover moves upward relative to the lower cover, the adjustable modules changes from a compression state to a stretch state then increase a distance between plates.
By shrink or stretch of the adjustable device, when a distance between two adjacent plates increases, it is easy to pick and place objects. The overall volume of the adjustable device is reduced when a distance of two adjacent plates decrease, thereby saving the working space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a stereograph of an adjustable device according to the first embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a plate for accommodating a wafer according to the first embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 4 and 5 is a schematic view of a partial enlargement of an adjustable device according to the first embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a stereograph of an adjustable device according to the second embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a partial enlargement of an adjustable device according to the second embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 8 and 9 is a stereograph of a connecting component for sidewalls device according to the second embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a stereograph of an adjustable device according to the third embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a partial enlargement of an adjustable device according to the third embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a breakdown illustration of a first sidewall and a second sidewall according to the third embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of an adjustable module in a compression state according to the third embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a stereograph of an adjustable device according to the fourth embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a particle enlargement of an adjustable device according to the fourth embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a stereograph of an adjustable device according to the fifth embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of a particle enlargement of an adjustable device according to the fifth embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of an adjustable storage box when the adjustable module in a compression state according to the disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of an adjustable storage box when the adjustable module in a stretch state according to the disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a stereograph of an upper cover of an adjustable storage box of the disclosure.

FIG. 21 is a stereograph of a lower cover of an adjustable storage box of the disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a schematic view of a lower cover directly connected to the lowest plate of the disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a schematic view of an upper cover directly connected to the upmost plate of the disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view of an adjustable module according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 25 is an exploding view of the adjustable module in FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of an adjustable module according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of an adjustable module according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
Some words are used to refer to specific elements in the whole specification and the appended claims in the disclosure. A person skilled in the art should understand that a wafer storage box and transfer device assembly manufacturer may use different names to refer to the same elements. The specification is not intended to distinguish elements that have the same functions but different names. In the following specification and claims, the terms “having”, “including”, etc. are open-ended terms, so they should be interpreted to mean “including but not limited to . . . ”.
It should be noted that in the following embodiments, features in a plurality of embodiments may be replaced, recombined, or mixed to complete other embodiments without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The features of the embodiments may be used in any combination without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or conflicting with each other.
The technical content and feature of the invention is illustrated by the following embodiment and figures. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, an adjustable device 10 according to the first embodiment of the disclosure includes plates 20, and at least two adjustable module 30 which connects two adjacent plates 20. The adjustable modules 30 can stretch out or draw back to change a distance between plates 20. When the adjustable module 30 is in a stretch state, a distance between two adjacent plates 20 is the largest. When the adjustable module 30 is in a compression state, a distance between two adjacent plates 20 is the smallest. Each plate 20 can be in regular polygon shape, square, or octagon et. al. It would be noted that the shape of each plates can be modified and not be limited to the above-mentioned shapes. Each plate can accommodate an object which can be wafer, dish, or disc et. al.
Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the plate 20 includes a side opening 22 and a bottom opening 24. Robotic arm can place an object such as a wafer 100 on the plate 20 or pick the wafer 100 from the plate 20 via these two openings. The bottom opening 24 can be in circle shape or any other shape and can be adjusted according to the manufacturing process needs. In order to place the wafer 100 on the plate more stably, the plate 20 may include a step structure 25 which includes a step sidewall 251 and a bottom portion of the step structure 253. Each step structure 25 can limit the horizontal translation of the wafer 100, thereby ensuring the wafer 100 will not slides out or damaged during transferring or manufacturing process. An angle between the step sidewall 251 and the plate 20 is ranged from 91 to 179 degree. It would be preferred that an angle between the bottom portion of the step structure 253 and the step sidewall 251 is less than 180 degree.
When a wafer 100 is placed on the plate 20, the step structure 25 can limit the horizontal translation of the wafer 100. It is easier to pick and place the wafer 100 due to the step sidewall 251. Furthermore, an area enclosed by an outer line of the step sidewall 251 is approximately slightly larger than a projection area of the wafer 100. An outer edge of the wafer 100 is against to the step sidewall 251 but does not contact the bottom portion of the step structure 253 to avoid being damaged by the step structure 25. Besides, an area enclosed by an inner line of each bottom portion of the step structure 253 can be modified depending on a size of a wafer for convince of picking and placing the wafer 100 by a robotic arm.
Two adjustable modules 30 are provided between each two adjacent plates 20 respectively arranged on the right and left side of the two adjacent plates 20 (as shown in FIG. 1). According to the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, each adjustable module 30 includes a first sidewall 31, a second sidewall 32, a connection component 34 which connects the first sidewall 31 and the second sidewall 32, and a movement restriction component 36 which is arranged on one side of the first sidewall 31 and the second sidewall 32. The first sidewall 31 is pivoted to one of the plates 20 and the second sidewall 32 is pivoted to another adjacent plate 20. When these adjustable modules are in a compression state, the first sidewall 31 and the second sidewall 32 can come close to each other. Referring to FIG. 5, the movement restriction component 36 includes two arc portions 361 which are respectively close to the first sidewall 31 and the second sidewall 32 so that the direction of stretching and drawing back of the adjustable module is limited. That is to say, the status of the adjustable module 30 changed from a stretch state to a compression state, the first sidewall 31 and the second sidewall 32 can present a convex shape like “>” (as shown in FIG. 5). In another embodiment, the movement restriction component 36 can also be arranged on the inner side of the connection component 34 or any other structural modified can be made, even can be omitted. The structure of the connection component 34 is not limited as long as the first sidewall 31 and the second sidewall 32 are connected with each other. A way to pivot first sidewall 31 and the second sidewall 32 to the plate 20 is not limited, it could be a hinge pass through plates 20, first sidewalls 31 and second sidewalls 32. In another embodiment, it could be the way that the first sidewall 31 and the second sidewall 32 respectively have plugs that plug into the pivot holes of the plates 20.
When a distance between two adjacent plates 20 increase by the stretch of the adjustable module 30, it is easy to pick and pack an object on the plate. When a distance between two adjacent plates 20 decrease, an overall volume of the adjustable device is reduced and to streamline the working space.
An adjustable device 10A of the second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9. The structure is substantially the same as the adjustable device 10 of the first embodiment except the connection component 34A. The connection component 34A of the second embodiment includes a first connection portion 341 formed on the first sidewall 31 and a second connection portion 345 formed on the second sidewall 32. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first connection portion 341 includes two first bodies 342, two pivot holes 343 respectively formed on the first body 342. An accommodation space 344 is located between two first bodies 342. The second connection portion 345 includes a second body 346 accommodated in the accommodating space 344 and two pivot pins 347 extending from the second body 346 and plug into the two pivot holes 343. The connection component 34A can connect the first sidewall 31 and the second sidewall 32. Besides, the two first bodies 342 of the first connection portion 341 respectively have an arc portions 342 a, the second connection portion 345 includes two indentations 345 b respectively arranged on two sides of the second body 346. The two arc portions 342 a could touch against the two indentations 345 b to form a movement restriction component 36A. The movement restriction component 36A limits the stretching and drawing back of the adjustable module. That is to say, the first sidewall 31 and the second sidewall 32 can present a convex shape like “>” (as shown in FIG. 7). On the other hand, two adjustable modules 30 are arranged on two opposite sides of two adjacent plates 20. In another embodiment, the first connection portion 341 can interchange with the second connection portion 345.
An adjustable device 10B of the third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13. The structure is substantially the same as the adjustable device 10 or 10A except adjustable modules 30B. The adjustable modules 30B of the third embodiment includes a first sidewall 31B, a second sidewall 32B which is pivoted to the first sidewall 31B on the same plate 20, and a connection component 34B that connects both the first sidewall 31B which is pivoted to another plates 20 and the second sidewall 32B. The first sidewalls 31B come close to each other when the adjustable modules 30B are in a compression state. The second sidewalls 32B come close to each other when the adjustable modules 30B are in a compression state. Referring to FIG. 11, in the embodiment, the lower portions 31B′ of the first sidewalls 31B are pivoted to the upper portion 32B′ of the second sidewalls 32B on the same plate 20, and the lower portion 32B″ of the second sidewall 32B is pivoted to a upper portion 31B″ of the first sidewall 31B which is on another plate 20. Referring to FIG. 12, the upper portion 31B′ of the first sidewall 31B includes a restriction trail 310. The lower portion 32B″ of the second sidewall 32B includes a restriction pin 320 which can extent into the restriction trail 310 to form a connection component 34B which connects the first sidewall 31B and the second sidewall 32B. At the same time, the restriction pin 320 is limited to only move within the restriction trail 310 so that the restriction pin 320 and the restriction trail 310 form a movement restriction component 36B to limit the stretch or drawing back of the adjustable module 30B. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, each two adjacent plates 20 includes two pairs of adjustable modules which are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the plates. The first sidewall 31B and the second sidewall 32B are pivoted to the plate 20 in a pivot direction L1 which is parallel to an extension direction L0 of the plate 20.
An adjustable device 10C of the fourth embodiment of the disclosure is shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15. The structure is substantially the same as the adjustable device 10B except the adjustable module 30 on two sides of the plate 20. The first sidewall 31B and the second sidewall 32B are pivoted to the plate 20 in a pivot direction L2 which is perpendicular to an extension direction L0 of the plate 20.
An adjustable device 10D of the fourth embodiment of the disclosure is shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17. The structure is substantially the same as the adjustable device 10C except the adjustable module 30 on two sides of the plate 20. The first sidewall 31B and the second sidewall 32B are pivoted to the plate 20 in a pivot direction L3 which is neither perpendicular nor parallel to an extension direction L0 of the plate 20.
Referring to FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, the disclosure provides an adjustable storage box 50 for accommodating the above-mentioned adjustable devices 10, 10 A, 10 B, 10C and 10 D (collectively referred to as 10). The adjustable storage box 50 includes an upper cover 60, a lower cover 70 disposed under the upper cover 60, and a storage space 80 disposed between the upper cover 60 and the lower cover 70. The upper cover 60 can moves up and down to cover the lower cover 70. The storage space 80 accommodates the adjustable device 10. FIG. 18 shows the state of the adjustable storage box 50 when the adjustable module 30 is in a compressed state, that is, the upper cover 60 is covered on the lower cover 70, FIG. 19 shows the state of the adjustable storage box 50 when the adjustable module 30 is in a stretch state when the upper cover 60 is separated from the lower cover 70. The shapes of the upper cover 60 and lower cover 70 can be modified according on the shape of the plate 20. Even the upper cover 60 can be plate-shaped. Besides, there could be a handle on the upper cover 60 of the adjustable storage box 50 for manually or mechanically picking or placing the upper cover 60.
The upper cover 60 can be connected to the upmost plate 20 of the adjustable device 10 and the lower cover 70 can be connected to the lowest plate 20 of the adjustable device 10. Referring to FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the upper cover 60 includes eight upper position restriction components 62 which are respectively arranged on the eight inner sides of the upper cover 60. The lower cover 70 also includes eight lower position restriction components 72 which are respectively arranged on the eight inner sides of the lower cover 70. The upper position restriction components 62 can directly or indirectly be connected to the upmost plate 20 of the adjustable device 10, the lower position restriction components 72 can directly or indirectly be connected to the lowest plate 20 of the adjustable device 10. According to the embodiment, the upper position restriction components 62 has an upper limited block 621 which could be directly hooked on the upmost plate 20, the lower position restriction components 72 has a lower limited block 721 which could be directly hooked on the lowest plate 20. In another embodiment, the amount of these upper position restriction components 62 and these lower position restriction components 72 can be more or less. The structure of these upper position restriction components 62 and these lower position restriction components 72 will not be limited to the above embodiment as long as these upper position restriction components 62 and these lower position restriction components 72 can respectively connected to the upper cover 60 and the lower cover 70.
As shown in FIG. 22, The plates 20 have side ports 21 for the passing of the lower limited block 721 of lower position restriction components 72 except the upmost plate 20 and lowest plate 20. When the upper cover 60 moves upward relative to the lower cover 70, the upper limited block 621 of the upper position restriction component 62 of the upper cover 60 can directly spur the upmost plate 20 so that the status of adjustable module 30 of the adjustable device 10 could be changed from a compression state to a stretch state. Therefore, the plates 20 move upward and increase the distance between each plate 20. The lower position restriction components 72 can pass through the side ports 21 until the lowest plate 20 is stopped by the lower limited block 721 of the lower position restriction component 72 of the lower cover 70. At this time, the adjustable module 30 is in a stretch state and the distance between two adjacent plates 20 reach a maximum so that it is easy to pick and place an object on the plate 20. When the upper cover 60 move downward relative to the upper cover 70, the upper cover 60 is close to the upmost plate 20, the plates 20 move down and decrease the distance between each plate 20. When the adjustable module 30 is in a compression state, a distance between two adjacent plates 20 reaches a minimum. At this time, overall volume of the adjustable device 10 is reduced, thereby saving the working space.
The above-mentioned object can be picked or placed manually or mechanically without specific restriction. Besides, the upper cover 60 can be moved up and down by holding the handle or directly picking the upper cover 60. The upmost plate 20 and the lowest plate 20 may not carry objects depending on the situation.
The way that the upmost plate 20 of an adjustable device 10 indirectly connected to the upper position restriction component 62 is shown in FIG. 23. That is, the upper position restriction component 62 is pivoted to the first sidewall 31 of the adjustable module 30. When the upper cover 60 moves up and spurs the first sidewall 31, the adjustable module 30 stretches. In the same way, the lowest plate 20 of an adjustable device 10 is indirectly connected to the lowest position restriction component 72. That is, the lower position restriction component 72 is pivoted to the second sidewall 32 of the adjustable module 30. In another embodiment, the upper position restriction component 62 can be pivoted to the second sidewall 32, the lower position restriction component 72 can be pivoted to the first sidewall 31.
As shown in FIG. 24 is another embodiment of the disclosure providing an adjustable storage device 10E, which is similar to the adjustable device 10B, 10C, and 10D, wherein the adjustable module 90 comprises a first sidewall 91 and a second sidewall 92, and the adjustable module 90′ comprises a first sidewall 91′ and a second sidewall 92′, wherein the first sidewall 91 and the second sidewall 92 are fixed to the plate 20, the first sidewall 91′ and the second sidewall 92′ are fixed to the plate 20′. The first sidewall 91 is connected to the second sidewall 92′, so that when the adjustable module 90 and the adjustable module 90′ are in a compression state, the first sidewall 91 and the first sidewall 91′ can come close to each other, and the second sidewall 92 and the second sidewall 92′ can come close to each other.
Referred to FIG. 25 which shows the detail of the first sidewall 91, the second sidewall 92, and the second sidewall 92′. The first sidewall 91 comprises a first sidewall right part 911, a first sidewall left part 915, and a connecting part 910 connecting these two parts. The first sidewall right part 911 comprises a right part upper pivot hole 912, a right part lower pivot hole 914, and a right part restriction trail 913 adjacent to the right part lower pivot hole 914; The first sidewall left part 915 comprises a left part upper pivot hole 916, a left part lower pivot hole 918, and a left part restriction trail 917 adjacent to the left part lower pivot hole 918, wherein the right part restriction trail 913 and the left part restriction trail 917 are formed in a hollow design. The second sidewall 92 comprises a upper pivot hole 921, a lower pivot hole 922, and a restriction pin 920 adjacent to the upper pivot hole 921; Similarly, a second sidewall 92′ comprises a upper pivot hole 921′, a lower pivot hole 922′, and a restriction pin 920′ adjacent to the upper pivot hole 921′.
Referred to FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, a hinge (not shown) could be used to pass through the lower pivot hole 922 of the second sidewall 92, and the left part upper pivot hole 916 and the right part upper pivot hole 912 of the first sidewall 91, so as to be fixed to the plate 20; Similarly, a hinge (not shown) could be used to pass through the upper pivot hole 921′ of the second sidewall 92′, and the right part lower pivot hole 914 and the left part lower pivot hole 918 of the first sidewall 91, so as to be fixed together; While the restriction pin 920′ could extend into the right part restriction trail 913 and the left part restriction trail 917 and be only movable therein, so that the direction of stretching and drawing back of the adjustable module 90 is limited.
FIG. 26 shows another adjustable storage device 10F of the disclosure, which is similar to adjustable storage device 10E but with the difference that, a restriction trail 813 of a first sidewall 81 of the adjustable storage device 10F is in a caved design (referred to FIG. 25, the right part restriction trail 913 and the left part restriction trail 917 of the adjustable storage device 10E are arranged in a hollow design), this is, the restriction trail 813 could be formed at the outer edges of both the right and left parts of the first sidewall 81 but not like hollow design as similar to a pivot hole, thus the mechanical design of the adjustable storage device 10F is relatively feasible for assembly.
FIG. 27 shows another adjustable storage device 10G of the disclosure, which is similar to adjustable storage device 10F but with the difference that, pivot springs 819 could be used as a pivot pin, or be set besides a pivot pin, extending from the right part lower pivot hole 814 and the left part lower pivot hole 818 of the first sidewall 81, into the upper pivot hole 821′ of the second sidewall 82′. The pivot springs 819 provide elastic tension to maintain the adjustable storage device 10G in a compression state or a stretch state, when a single direction force is applied from the upper cover, it will be feasible to insert or fetch the substrates to or from the adjustable storage device 10G.
Although the disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art should understand that modifications may still be made to the technical solutions in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent replacements may be made to part or all of the technical features; And these modifications or replacements will not cause the essence of corresponding technical solutions to depart from the scope of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the disclosure.

Claims

1. An adjustable storage device, comprising:

plates, storing a plurality of plates; and

at least two adjustable modules, connecting a first plate and adjacent to which a second plate, the at least two adjustable modules being stretchable to change a distance between the first plate and the second plate, each of the at least two adjustable modules comprising:

a first sidewall, comprising a right part, a left part, and a connection part connecting the right part and the left part, the right part comprising a right part upper pivot hole, a right part lower pivot hole, and a right part restriction trail adjacent to the right part lower pivot hole, the left part comprising a left part upper pivot hole, a left part lower pivot hole, and a left part restriction trail adjacent to the left part lower pivot hole;

two second sidewalls, each comprising an upper pivot hole, a lower pivot hole, a right restriction pin and a left restriction pin provided adjacent to the upper pivot hole and located on two sides of the second sidewall respectively; and

wherein the lower pivot hole of one of the two second sidewalls, the right part upper pivot hole and the left part upper pivot hole of the first sidewall being fixed to the first plate by a hinge, the right restriction pin and the left restriction pin of the other of the two second sidewalls extending into the right restriction trail and the left restriction trail of the first sidewall respectively, thus that when the at least two adjustable modules being in a compression state, two second sidewalls coming close to each other.

2. The adjustable storage device of claim 1, wherein the upper pivot hole of the other of the two second sidewalls, the right part lower pivot hole and the left part pivot hole of the first sidewall being connected by another hinge.

3. The adjustable storage device of claim 1, wherein the right part restriction trial, the left part restriction trial respectively forming a hollow design with the right part lower pivot hole and the left part pivot hole.

4. The adjustable storage device of claim 1, wherein the right part restriction trial and the left part restriction trail being a caved design.

5. The adjustable storage device of claim 1, wherein the connection part of the first sidewall connecting a center portion of the right part upper pivot hole and the right part lower pivot hole, and a center portion of the left part upper pivot hole and the left part lower pivot hole.

6. The adjustable storage device of claim 1 further comprising two springs respectively extending from the right part lower pivot hole and the left part lower pivot hole of the first sidewall into the upper pivot hole of the other of the two sidewalls, and providing an elastic tension to maintain the adjustable storage device in a compression state or a stretch state.