阅读说明：本技术 盖开闭装置 (Lid opening and closing device ) 是由 坂本显史 山崎良太 布目涼马 于 2020-01-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种盖开闭装置,抑制装置大型化的同时降低颗粒的产生。盖开闭装置(100)对容器(3)的上盖(2)进行开闭,该容器具备：容器主体(1)；上盖(2)；卡止机构4,在上盖(2)安装于容器主体(1)的状态下将上盖(2)相对于容器主体卡止；以及水平方向的板部(5a),设置于上盖(2),在使该板部(5a)相对于容器主体(1)超过规定值地向上方转动时,使卡止机构(4)的卡止解除,该盖开闭装置(100)具备：载放台(10),载放容器(3)；引导部(20),设置于载放台(10)的上方并且两侧方,在容器(3)被沿着水平方向插入到载放台(10)的规定位置(P)时,与板部(5a)的下表面抵接而使板部(5a)相对于容器主体(1)超过规定值地向上方转动；以及升降机构(40),使卡止机构(4)的卡止被解除后的容器主体(1)与上盖(2)在上下方向上相对地移动。(The invention relates to a cover opening and closing device, which can inhibit the device from being enlarged and reduce the generation of particles. A lid opening/closing device (100) opens/closes an upper lid (2) of a container (3), the container comprising: a container body (1); an upper cover (2); a locking mechanism 4 for locking the upper cover 2 to the container body in a state where the upper cover 2 is attached to the container body 1; and a horizontal plate section (5a) provided in the upper lid (2) and configured to release the locking of the locking mechanism (4) when the plate section (5a) is rotated upward beyond a predetermined value with respect to the container body (1), the lid opening/closing device (100) comprising: a loading table (10) for loading the container (3); guide sections (20) provided above and on both sides of the placement base (10) and configured to abut against the lower surface of the plate section (5a) when the container (3) is inserted into a predetermined position (P) of the placement base (10) in the horizontal direction and to rotate the plate section (5a) upward beyond a predetermined value with respect to the container body (1); and a lifting mechanism (40) which relatively moves the container body (1) and the upper cover (2) in the vertical direction after the locking of the locking mechanism (4) is released.)

1. A lid opening/closing device for opening/closing an upper lid of a container, the container comprising: a container body; the upper cover; a locking mechanism that locks the upper cover with respect to the container body in a state in which the upper cover is attached to the container body; and a horizontal plate portion provided to the upper lid, the plate portion being configured to release the locking of the locking mechanism when the plate portion is rotated upward beyond a predetermined value with respect to the container body, the lid opening/closing device including:

a loading platform for loading the container;

a guide portion provided above and on both sides of the mounting table, the guide portion abutting against a lower surface of the plate portion and rotating the plate portion upward relative to the container body beyond a predetermined value when the container is inserted into a predetermined position of the mounting table in a horizontal direction; and

and an elevating mechanism for moving the container body and the upper lid in a vertical direction relative to each other after the locking of the locking mechanism is released.

2. The cover opening and closing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

the container loading device is provided with an upper guide part which is above the plate part and is in contact with the upper surface of the side part of the upper cover facing the upper cover when the container is inserted to a predetermined position of the loading platform along the horizontal direction.

3. The cover opening and closing apparatus as claimed in claim 2,

a groove is formed by the lower surface of the guide part and the upper surface of the upper guide part,

the side portion of the upper cover and the plate portion are movable along the groove.

4. The cover opening and closing apparatus as claimed in claim 3,

the groove is provided in the lifting mechanism.

5. The cover opening and closing device as claimed in claim 4,

the groove holds the side portion and the plate portion of the upper cover,

the lifting mechanism includes a lifting drive unit that lifts the guide portion held by the groove and the upper guide portion relative to the container body.

6. The lid opening and closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the mounting table is provided with an inclined portion at a front end portion of an inlet side when the container is inserted.

7. The lid opening and closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

an inclined surface or a curved surface is provided at a front end portion on the inlet side of the guide portion.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a lid opening and closing device.

Background

In a semiconductor manufacturing plant or the like, an article such as a reticle is stored in a container such as a reticle pod and transported to a storage apparatus or a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, and the reticle or the like is taken out from the container in the storage apparatus or the like. The container has a container body for placing an article thereon and an upper lid, and is provided with a locking mechanism for locking the upper lid to the container body in a state where the upper lid is attached to the container body. The locking mechanism is applied to the following components: when the plate portion provided in the horizontal direction of the upper lid is rotated upward beyond a predetermined value with respect to the container body, the locking is released. In order to take out a stored article from a container having such a locking mechanism, a lid opening and closing device has been proposed which releases the locking mechanism to open and close an upper lid with respect to a container body in a storage device or the like (for example, see patent document 1).

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 3089590

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The lid opening and closing device described in patent document 1 is applied with the following configuration: the container has an actuator for releasing the locking of the locking mechanism, and the upper lid is raised from the container body after the locking mechanism of the container is released by driving the actuator. The lid opening and closing device having an actuator for releasing the locking of the locking mechanism has a problem that the device becomes large due to the mounting of the actuator.

The invention aims to provide a cover opening and closing device which can inhibit the device from being enlarged.

Means for solving the problems

A lid opening/closing device according to an aspect of the present invention is a lid opening/closing device for opening/closing an upper lid of a container, the container including: a container body; an upper cover; a locking mechanism for locking the upper cover with respect to the container body in a state in which the upper cover is attached to the container body; and a horizontal plate portion provided in the upper lid, and releasing the locking of the locking mechanism when the plate portion is rotated upward beyond a predetermined value with respect to the container body, the lid opening/closing device including: a loading platform for loading the container; a guide portion provided above and on both sides of the placement base, the guide portion abutting against a lower surface of the plate portion and rotating the plate portion upward relative to the container body beyond a predetermined value when the container is inserted to a predetermined position of the placement base in a horizontal direction; and a lifting mechanism for moving the container body and the upper cover in the vertical direction after the locking of the locking mechanism is released.

Further, the container may be provided with an upper guide portion which is located above the plate portion and contacts an upper surface of a side portion of the upper cover facing the upper cover when the container is inserted to a predetermined position of the mounting base in the horizontal direction. Further, the groove may be formed by a lower surface of the guide portion and an upper surface of the upper guide portion, and the side portion of the upper cover and the plate portion may be movable along the groove. In addition, the groove may be provided in the elevating mechanism. The groove may hold the side portion and the plate portion of the upper lid, and the lifting mechanism may include a lifting/lowering driving unit that lifts and lowers the guide portion held by the groove and the upper guide portion with respect to the container body. Further, the placement base may be provided with an inclined portion at a tip portion on an inlet side when the container is inserted. Further, an inclined surface or a curved surface may be provided at a leading end portion on the inlet side of the guide portion.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the lid opening and closing device, when the container is inserted to a predetermined position of the mounting base in the horizontal direction, the guide portion abuts against the lower surface of the plate portion, the plate portion is rotated upward beyond a predetermined value with respect to the container body, and the locking mechanism is released. That is, since the locking mechanism of the container can be released only by inserting the container to a predetermined position of the mounting table in the horizontal direction, an actuator for releasing the locking mechanism is not necessary, and the size of the apparatus can be suppressed.

Further, in the configuration including the upper guide portion which abuts against the upper surface of the side portion of the upper cover facing the upper plate portion above the plate portion when the container is inserted to the predetermined position of the mounting base in the horizontal direction, the upper guide portion can suppress the upper cover from moving upward when the plate portion is moved upward by the guide portion. Therefore, the plate portion can be reliably rotated with respect to the container body. In the configuration in which the groove is formed by the lower surface of the guide portion and the upper surface of the upper guide portion, and the side portion of the upper cover and the plate portion are movable along the groove, the side portion of the upper cover and the plate portion are sandwiched by the groove, whereby the plate portion can be reliably rotated. In the configuration in which the groove is provided in the lifting mechanism, the side portion and the plate portion (i.e., the upper cover) of the upper cover sandwiched by the groove can be easily lifted and lowered by lifting and lowering the groove by the lifting mechanism. In addition, in the configuration in which the groove holds the side portion and the plate portion of the upper lid, and the lifting mechanism includes the lifting drive portion that lifts and lowers the guide portion held by the groove and the upper guide portion with respect to the container body, the groove also serves as the holding portion of the upper lid, so that a separate holding portion for holding the upper lid is not required, and an increase in the number of components can be avoided. Further, the upper lid from which the locking of the locking mechanism is released can be easily separated from the container body. In the configuration in which the inclined portion is provided at the front end portion of the placement base on the inlet side of the container when the container is inserted, the lower portion of the container is guided by the inclined portion when the container is inserted, whereby the container can be set to an appropriate height. In the case where the inclined surface or the curved surface is provided at the inlet-side end portion of the guide portion, the plate portion can be appropriately guided to the guide portion by contacting the inclined surface or the curved surface when the container is inserted.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a lid opening and closing device according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a view of the lid opening and closing device viewed from the-X side.

Fig. 3 is a view of the lid opening and closing device viewed from the-Y side.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the container.

Fig. 5 (a) is a view in which the locking of the locking mechanism of the container is released, and (B) is a view in which the upper lid is moved upward with respect to the container body.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a state before the container is placed on the placement stage.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a state where the container is disposed at a predetermined position on the mounting table.

Fig. 8 (a) is an enlarged view of the main portion of fig. 7, and (B) is a view showing a state in which the locking mechanism is released in the state shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of moving the upper lid upward.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the cover opening and closing device according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 11 (a) to (C) are views showing an example of the operation of opening and closing the shutter, and show the state of the outside of the side wall portion.

Fig. 12 (a) to (C) are views showing an example of the operation of opening and closing the shutter, and show the state inside the side wall portion.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. In the drawings, a part of the embodiment is shown with scale appropriately changed, such as with enlargement or emphasis. In the following drawings, the directions in the drawings will be described using an XYZ coordinate system. In this XYZ coordinate system, the vertical direction (vertical direction) is defined as the Z direction, and the horizontal direction is defined as the X direction and the Y direction. The Y direction is one direction in the horizontal direction and is an insertion direction of a container described later. The X direction is a direction orthogonal to the Y direction. In addition, regarding each direction of the X, Y, Z directions, a direction indicated by an arrow is appropriately expressed as a + direction (for example, + X direction), and a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow is expressed as a-direction (for example, -X direction).

[ first embodiment ]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a lid opening and closing device 100 according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a view of the lid opening/closing device 100 viewed from the-X side. Fig. 3 is a view of the lid opening/closing device 100 viewed from the-Y side. The lid opening/closing apparatus 100 shown in fig. 1 to 3 includes a container body 1 and an upper lid 2, and opens and closes the upper lid 2 of a container 3 that accommodates an article such as a reticle.

The container 3 includes a locking mechanism 4, and the locking mechanism 4 locks the upper lid 2 to the container body 1 in a state where the upper lid 2 is attached to the container body 1. The container 3 is a reticle box that accommodates a reticle R as an article. The locking mechanism 4 is applied as follows: when the plate portion 5a provided in the horizontal direction of the upper lid 2 is rotated upward beyond a predetermined value with respect to the container body 1, the locking is released. Further, details of the container 3 will be described later. In the lid opening and closing device 100 of the present embodiment, in order to take out the stored article from the container 3 having the locking mechanism 4, the locking mechanism 4 is released and the upper lid 2 is opened and closed with respect to the container body 1.

The lid opening/closing device 100 includes a mounting base 10, a lower guide (guide) 20, an upper guide 30, and a lifting mechanism 40. The lid opening and closing device 100 shown in fig. 1 to 3 shows a mode in which the containers 3 are arranged in 2 stages up and down, but is not limited to this mode, and may be a mode in which one container 3 is placed, or a mode in which 3 or more containers 3 are arranged up and down. The placement stage 10 determines a predetermined position P at which the container 3 is placed. The mounting table 10 is 2 rod-shaped members extending in the Y direction, and a plurality of the rod-shaped members are arranged in parallel in the Z direction. The mounting table 10 supports the flange portion 1d on the + X side and the flange portion 1d on the-X side of the container 3, and mounts the container 3 in parallel with a horizontal plane.

the-Y-side end of the stage 10 corresponds to an entrance portion for inserting the container 3. The container 3 is inserted from the entrance part in the + Y direction and disposed on the mounting base 10. An inclined portion 11 is provided at an end portion (entrance portion) of the stage 10 on the-Y side. The inclined portion 11 is formed to be inclined upward (+ Z side) from the end of the-Y side toward the + Y side. By providing the inclined portion 11, the flange portion 1d of the container 3 is guided from the inclined portion 11 to the mounting base 10 when the container 3 is inserted, and the container 3 can be disposed at an appropriate height. Further, the inner surface of each stage 10 (the surface on the + X side of the stage 10 on the X side, and the surface on the-X side of the stage 10 on the + X side) is provided with a second inclined portion 11 a. When the container 3 is inserted, the second inclined portion 11a contacts a side portion (see fig. 4) of the container body 1 that is erected at the bottom portion to form the flange portion 1d, and guides and positions the container 3 (container body 1) to an appropriate position in the X direction. Further, in each of the stages 10, a second inclined portion 11a is provided from the end portion on the-Y side.

The lid opening/closing device 100 is provided with a recess 12 formed by recessing a portion between the 2 stages 10 to the lower side on the inlet side for inserting the container 3. By providing the concave portion 12, for example, when an operator or the like inserts the container 3 onto the mounting base 10 or takes out the container 3 on the mounting base 10, the operator's hand is not obstructed, and as a result, the container 3 is easily gripped, and the convenience of taking out and putting in the container 3 is improved. A pressing portion 13 is provided above the + Y side of the mounting table 10. The pressing portion 13 is disposed at a position facing upward from the upper surface of the mounting base 10 by the thickness of the flange portion 1d of the container body 1. The pressing portion 13 is disposed on the upper surface side of the flange portion 1d of the mounting base 10 when the container 3 is disposed at the predetermined position P, and prevents the container body 1 from moving upward.

Further, a stopper, not shown, may be provided to contact the + Y side of the container body 1 when the container 3 is disposed at the predetermined position P. The stopper may position the container body 1 in the Y direction by restricting the movement of the container body 1 in the + Y direction from the position where the container 3 is disposed when the container 3 is disposed at the predetermined position P. The lid opening/closing apparatus 100 further includes a holding member 14, and the holding member 14 restricts the container 3 placed at the predetermined position P from being detached (moved in the-Y direction). The holding member 14 is provided in a state where the distal end side faces the inside of the cover opening/closing device 100. The holding member 14 includes, for example, a not-shown protrusion portion elastically supported inward by a not-shown elastic member. The protrusion restricts the movement of the container 3 placed at the predetermined position P in the-Y direction by protruding toward the-Y side of the step portion 1f (see fig. 4) provided in the flange portion 1d by the elastic member when the container 3 is placed at the predetermined position P. In fig. 6, 7, and 9, the holding member 14 is omitted.

The lower guide portion 20 is provided above the respective stages 10 on the + X side and the-X side. The lower guide 20 is disposed along the direction in which the mounting base 10 extends. The lower guide portion 20 abuts against a lower surface of a plate portion 5a of the locking mechanism 4 provided in the container 3 when the container 3 is inserted to the predetermined position P of the mounting base 10 in the horizontal direction, and pivots the plate portion 5a upward beyond a predetermined value with respect to the container body 1. The upper surface 20a of the lower guide portion 20 abuts against the lower surface of the plate portion 5 a. The lower guide 20 is provided with an inclined surface or a curved surface at the front end portion on the inlet side (-Y side). In the present embodiment, a curved surface 21 is provided at the-Y-side tip end portion of the lower guide 20. By providing the curved surface 21, the plate portion 5a can be appropriately guided to the lower guide portion 20 by the plate portion 5a coming into contact with the curved surface 21 when the container 3 is inserted.

The end of the lower guide 20 on the back side (+ Y side) is bent upward and attached to an upper guide 30 described later. The + Y side of the upper surface 20a of the lower guide 20 is bent upward to form a stopper 22. The stopper 22 is configured to prevent the container 3 from moving further in the + Y direction from the predetermined position P by contacting an end portion on the + Y side of the projecting piece 2c of the container 3 disposed at the predetermined position P.

The upper guide portion 30 extends in the Y direction along the lower guide portions 20 above the respective lower guide portions 20. The upper guide portion 30 and the lower guide portion 20 are disposed in parallel. The upper guide 30 is longer in the Y direction than the lower guide 20. The upper guide portion 30 is configured to abut against the upper surface of the side portion 2a of the upper cover 2 facing above the plate portion 5a until the container 3 is inserted to the predetermined position P of the mounting base 10 in the horizontal direction. By providing the upper guide portion 30, the upper cover 2 can be pressed from above when the plate portion 5a is rotated upward by the lower guide portion 20. That is, by sandwiching the side portion 2a and the plate portion 5a between the upper guide portion 30 and the lower guide portion 20, the upper guide portion 30 can restrict upward movement of the side portion 2a (the upper cover 2), and the lower guide portion 20 can rotate the plate portion 5a upward.

The upper guide portion 30 is disposed at a predetermined distance L in the vertical direction (Z direction) from the lower guide portion 20 (see fig. 8). The predetermined distance L is, for example, the following distance: the side portion 2a and the plate portion 5a of the upper cover 2 are sandwiched between the lower guide portion 20 and the upper guide portion 30, and the plate portion 5a is rotated upward (the end portion of the plate portion 5a is moved upward) relative to the container body 1 beyond a predetermined value while suppressing the rise of the upper cover 2, thereby releasing the locking of the locking mechanism 4. Further, since the upper surface of the side portion 2a of the upper cover 2 is pressed by the lower surface 30a of the upper guide portion 30, when the plate portion 5a is rotated upward by the lower guide portion 20, the upward movement of the upper cover 2 is restricted, and the locking of the locking mechanism 4 can be reliably released. Further, the upper cover 2 is held by sandwiching the side portion 2a and the plate portion 5a of the upper cover 2 between the lower guide portion 20 and the upper guide portion 30. That is, the lower guide portion 20 and the upper guide portion 30 function as a holding portion of the upper cover 2. The front end portion of the lower guide 20 and the upper guide 30 are coupled via a bracket 23. The lower guide portion 20 is cantilevered extending in the-Y direction from near the stopper 22. By coupling the front end portion of the lower guide 20 and the upper guide 30 with the bracket 23, the rigidity of the lower guide 20 can be increased, and the front end portion of the lower guide 20 can be prevented from sagging. The bracket 23 is shown in fig. 1, and is omitted in other drawings.

The upper guide 30 is attached to, for example, a plate-shaped lifting member 31, and is lifted and lowered by the lifting member 31. The lower guide portion 20 attached to the upper guide portion 30 is moved up and down by the upper guide portion 30 and the lifting member 31. That is, the lower guide 20 and the upper guide 30 move up and down integrally with the lifting member 31. The lifting member 31 is lifted and lowered by the lifting mechanism 40. The lifting mechanism 40 may be driven by a control device (not shown) or the like, which detects that the container 3 is placed at the predetermined position P by a sensor or the like, or by an operator operating an operation panel (not shown) (manually).

The lifting mechanism 40 lifts the upper lid 2 with respect to the container body 1 whose locking by the locking mechanism 4 is released. The lifting mechanism 40 is not limited to the structure for lifting the upper lid 2 relative to the container body 1, and may be a structure for lowering the container body 1 relative to the upper lid 2, or a structure for lifting the upper lid 2 and lowering the container body 1. The lifting mechanism 40 has a lifting drive unit 41. The elevation driving unit 41 elevates the elevation member 31. As the elevation driving unit 41, for example, a cylinder device or the like is used. By raising and lowering the raising and lowering member 31, the lower guide portion 20 and the upper guide portion 30 holding the upper lid 2 can be raised and lowered with respect to the container body 1 as described above.

A cover 32 is provided at the + Y-side end of the elevating member 31. The cover 32 is bent downward from the end of the up-and-down member 31 on the + Y side, and is disposed to hang down from the end of the up-and-down member 31. The cover portion 32 is provided in a grid shape, for example, and restricts the hand from being inserted into an area where various devices (for example, a conveying device of the reticle R) disposed on the back side of the housing 70 operate when the operator inserts the hand into the housing 70. The cover portion 32 moves up and down integrally with the up-and-down member 31, is disposed on the + Y side of the mounting base 10 (an opening portion (not shown) provided in the back surface portion 73 of the casing 70) when the up-and-down member 31 moves down, and moves up together with the up-and-down member 31 when the up-and-down member 31 moves up, thereby opening the + Y side of the container body 1. Therefore, when the upper lid 2 is raised, the reticle R placed on the container body 1 can be taken out from the + Y side (opening not shown) of the lid opening and closing device 100.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the container 3. Fig. 5 (a) is a diagram of the container 3 after releasing the locking of the locking mechanism 4, and (B) is a diagram of the upper lid moved upward with respect to the container body. As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the container body 1 has a rectangular plate shape, for example. The container body 1 includes a plurality of support portions 1a for supporting the rectangular plate-shaped reticle R. The plurality of support portions 1a are arranged at 4 positions corresponding to the corner portions of the reticle R, respectively. Each support portion 1a is provided with a positioning portion 1 b. The positioning portion 1b supports the + Y side and the-Y side of the reticle R, and prevents the reticle R from being displaced in the Y direction. Further, the container body 1 is provided with a positioning portion 1 c. The positioning portion 1c supports the + X side and the-X side of the reticle R, and prevents positional deviation of the reticle R in the X direction. The method of supporting the reticle R in the container body 1 is arbitrary, and is not limited to the above configuration.

The container body 1 has flange portions 1d on the + X side and the-X side, respectively. The flange 1d is formed along 2 opposing sides of the container body 1. The flange 1d extends in the Y direction and is parallel to the bottom of the container body 1. The flange 1d has a side portion standing along the Z direction with respect to the bottom portion, and is provided in a flange shape along the X direction from the side portion. The flange portion 1d is disposed above the bottom of the container body 1 via a step portion. The flange portion 1d has a locking portion 1e at a portion thereof. The locking portion 1e is provided at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the Y direction, of the flange portion 1 d. Further, a stepped portion 1f is provided on the + Y side and the-Y side in the edge portion of the flange portion 1 d. The stepped portion 1f (+ Y-side stepped portion 1f) is configured to be locked to an unillustrated protruding portion of the holding member 14 (see fig. 1 and the like) when the container 3 is disposed at the predetermined position P, and to restrict movement of the container 3 in the-Y direction.

The upper cover 2 has a side portion 2a, a side wall portion 2b, and a projecting piece 2 c. The side portions 2a are provided so as to protrude from the + X side and the-X side of the rectangular top plate portion, respectively, in plan view, for example. The side wall portion 2b has a rectangular frame shape in plan view and is provided along the outer periphery of the top plate portion. The side wall portion 2b is provided in the container body 1 in a size insertable between two flange portions 1d (a pair of side portions standing on the bottom). The projecting pieces 2c are provided so as to project outward from the side wall portion 2b on the + Y side of the side portion 2 a. The thickness of the protruding piece 2c is set so that the protruding piece 2c can be inserted between the lower guide 20 and the upper guide 30. The projecting piece 2c is brought into contact with the stopper 22 of the lower guide 20 through the + Y-side end, thereby defining the position of the container 3 on the mounting base 10 in the insertion direction.

Further, the container 3 has a locking mechanism 4. The locking mechanism 4 includes a locking member 5, a shaft 6, and an elastic member 7. The locking member 5, the shaft 6, and the elastic member 7 are provided in the upper cover 2. The locking member 5 is disposed below the side portion 2 a. The locking member 5 has a plate portion 5a, a hanging portion 5b, and a claw portion 5 c. The plate portion 5a extends in the horizontal direction along the side portion 2a, and is disposed below the side portion 2a at a predetermined interval. The hanging portion 5b is a portion bent downward from the side wall portion 2b side of the plate portion 5 a. The claw portion 5c is provided at the lower end of the hanging-down portion 5b, and is locked to the locking portion 1e of the container body 1.

The shaft 6 is disposed on the side wall portion 2b side of the plate portion 5a, and is provided on the upper cover 2 (side portion 2a) such that the axial direction thereof is the Y-axis direction. The shaft 6 rotatably supports the locking member 5. That is, the locking member 5 can rotate about the shaft 6. In other words, the plate portion 5a is provided so as to be rotatable about the shaft 6, and the positions of the drooping portion 5b and the claw portion 5c with respect to the container body 1 (the locking portion 1e) change as the plate portion 5a rotates. When the plate portion 5a is rotated upward (in the + Z-axis direction) about the shaft 6, the hanging portion 5b and the claw portion 5c are separated from the container body 1. When the plate portion 5a is rotated downward (in the Z-axis direction) about the axis 6, the hanging portion 5b and the claw portion 5c approach the container main body 1. The elastic member 7 is disposed between the plate portion 5a and the side portion 2 a. The elastic member 7 applies a downward elastic force to the plate portion 5a using, for example, a coil spring or the like.

As shown in fig. 5 (a), when a force greater than the elastic force of the elastic member 7 is applied to the plate portion 5a upward, the end of the plate portion 5a rotates in a direction approaching the side portion 2a, and as a result, the locking member 5 rotates about the shaft 6. When the plate portion 5a is turned upward beyond a predetermined value with respect to the container main body 1, or when the distance between the upper surface of the side portion 2a and the lower surface of the end portion of the plate portion 5a becomes smaller than a predetermined distance L (see fig. 8), the claw portion 5c is separated from the container main body 1 and is disengaged from the engaging portion 1 e. The claw portion 5c is disengaged from the locking portion 1e, and thus the locking of the upper cover 2 by the locking mechanism 4 is released. In a state where the locking of the upper cover 2 by the locking mechanism 4 is released, the claw portion 5c and the locking portion 1e do not overlap in a plan view.

As shown in fig. 5 (B), when the upper lid 2 is moved upward in a state where the locking by the locking mechanism 4 is released, the upper lid 2 is separated from the container body 1. As a result, the upper lid 2 is removed from the container body 1 and the container 3 is opened (a state in which the reticle R can be removed or placed). In the state where the locking by the locking mechanism 4 is released, the container 3 may be moved upward with respect to the container body 1 even if the container body 1 is lowered. Further, when the upper lid 2 is attached to the container body 1 and the container 3 is taken out from the placement base 10 (that is, the plate portion 5a is separated from the lower guide portion 20), the plate portion 5a is pressed by the elastic member 7 and turned downward, and the claw portion 5c approaches the container body 1 by turning the locking member 5, thereby returning to the state in which the claw portion 5c is locked to the locking portion 1 e.

Next, an example of an operation of arranging the container 3 in the lid opening/closing device 100 and opening the upper lid 2 will be described with reference to fig. 6 to 9. In fig. 6 to 9, one container 3 will be described as an example. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a state before the container 3 is placed on the placement stage 10. As shown in fig. 6, the container 3 is disposed on the front side (-Y side) of the entrance portion of one stage 10. The container 3 may be held by a hand of an operator or held by a robot or the like.

The container 3 is disposed, for example, such that the flange portion 1d of the container 3 is at the height of the mounting base 10. From this state, the container 3 is inserted in the + Y direction, and the container 3 is disposed at the predetermined position P. In addition, even when the flange portion 1d is lower than the placement base 10 in height when the container 3 is inserted, the flange portion 1d is guided by being in contact with the inclined portion 11, and the container 3 can be inserted with the flange portion 1d placed on the placement base 10. When the container 3 is inserted, the plate portion 5a of the locking mechanism 4 reaches the curved surface 21 of the lower guide portion 20. The plate portion 5a is appropriately guided to the lower guide portion 20 by being in contact with the curved surface 21. When the plate portion 5a is guided to the lower guide portion 20, the plate portion 5a is rotated upward by the lower guide portion 20. That is, the plate portion 5a is rotated upward by the lower guide portion 20 in the middle of the insertion of the container 3 to the predetermined position P.

When the container 3 is inserted, the side portion 2a of the upper cover 2 is guided in contact with the upper guide portion 30. When the container 3 is inserted, the side portion 2a starts to contact the upper guide portion 30 at a timing earlier than the timing at which the plate portion 5a starts to be guided by the lower guide portion 20. The container 3 is inserted to the predetermined position P from the middle of the insertion in a state where the side portion 2a is guided by the upper guide portion 30 and the plate portion 5a is guided by the lower guide portion 20. Further, the locking mechanism 4 releases the locking in a state where the plate portion 5a is rotated upward by the lower guide portion 20. The container 3 is inserted until the protruding piece 2c comes into contact with the stopper 22. The operator can easily dispose the container 3 at the predetermined position P by inserting the container 3 until it is stopped (in a state where further pushing-in is impossible).

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the container 3 is disposed at the predetermined position P. Fig. 8 (a) is an enlarged view of the main part of fig. 7. Fig. 8 (B) is a view schematically showing an example of the locking mechanism 4 of the upper cover 2 in the state shown in fig. 7. As shown in fig. 7, in a state where the container 3 is disposed at the predetermined position P of the mounting table 10, the side portion 2a and the plate portion 5a are sandwiched between the lower guide portion 20 and the upper guide portion 30, and the upper cover 2 is held by the lower guide portion 20 and the upper guide portion 30.

As shown in fig. 8 (a) and (B), the plate portions 5a on both sides of the upper lid 2 are guided by the lower guide portions 20, and the plate portions 5a are turned upward with respect to the container body 1 (container 3) against the elastic force of the elastic member 7. Further, the upper surface of the side portion 2a of the upper cover 2 abuts against the lower surface 30a of the upper guide portion 30. When the plate portion 5a is rotated upward, an upward force acts on the upper cover 2. This force is received by the upper guide 30, and the position of the upper cover 2 in the vertical direction is maintained. As shown in fig. 8 (B), a predetermined distance L is set between the upper surface 20a of the lower guide 20 and the lower surface 30a of the upper guide 30. The predetermined distance L is a distance necessary for releasing the locking of the locking mechanism 4 by rotating the plate portion 5a upward. That is, the plate portion 5a is rotated upward by the lower guide portion 20 until the distance becomes the predetermined distance L, whereby the locking of the locking mechanism 4 can be reliably released.

The side portion 2a is pressed by the upward movement of the upper guide portion 30. Therefore, when the plate portion 5a is rotated upward, the upper lid 2 is prevented from moving upward, and the plate portion 5a can be reliably rotated upward with respect to the container body 1. When the plate portion 5a is rotated upward, the locking member 5 is rotated about the shaft 6, and the claw portion 5c is disengaged from the locking portion 1e of the container body 1. As a result, the locking of the locking mechanism 4 is released, and the upper lid 2 can be moved upward with respect to the container body 1. While container 3 is disposed at predetermined position P, the state in which the locking by locking mechanism 4 is released is maintained.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an operation of opening the upper cover 2. As shown in fig. 9, the lifting member 31 is lifted by the lifting drive unit 41 of the lifting mechanism 40, and the lower guide portion 20 and the upper guide portion 30 integrated with the lifting member 31 are lifted. Since the side portions 2a and the plate portions 5a on both sides of the upper cover 2 are sandwiched and held between the lower guide portions 20 and the upper guide portions 30, the upper cover 2 is also raised relative to the container body 1 by the raising of the lower guide portions 20 and the upper guide portions 30. The upper lid 2 is raised to open the upper surface side of the container body 1, and the reticle R can be taken out of or placed on the container body 1.

The upper surface 20a of the lower guide portion 20 slides on the lower surface of the plate portion 5a, and the lower surface 30a of the upper guide portion 30 slides on the upper surface of the side portion 2a of the upper cover 2. Therefore, one or both of the upper surface 20a of the lower guide 20 and the lower surface 30a of the upper guide 30 may be subjected to a friction reducing process, or a film for reducing friction may be formed. By applying such a friction-reducing structure, it is possible to reduce the generation of particles at the time of insertion or removal of the container 3. The upper surface 20a of the lower guide portion 20 may be formed in a state in which the inner side is inclined downward so that the upper surface 20a and the lower surface of the plate portion 5a come into contact with each other in a state in which the locking of the locking mechanism 4 is released, that is, in a state in which the plate portion 5a is rotated upward. With this configuration, the plate portion 5a is stably supported by the lower guide portion 20.

As described above, according to the lid opening and closing device 100 of the present embodiment, when the container 3 is inserted to the predetermined position P of the mounting base 10 in the horizontal direction, the lower guide portion 20 abuts against the lower surface of the plate portion 5a, and the plate portion 5a is rotated upward beyond a predetermined value with respect to the container body 1, thereby releasing the locking mechanism 4. That is, the locking mechanism 4 of the container 3 can be released only by inserting the container 3 to the predetermined position P of the mounting table 10 in the horizontal direction, so that an actuator for releasing the locking mechanism 4 is not necessary, and the size of the apparatus can be suppressed.

[ second embodiment ]

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a cover opening/closing apparatus 200 according to a second embodiment. As shown in fig. 10, the lid opening and closing device 200 has, in addition to the configuration of the lid opening and closing device 100 according to the first embodiment: a shutter 50 capable of opening and closing an inlet portion into which the container 3 is inserted; a shutter drive mechanism 60 for opening and closing the shutter 50; and a case 70 surrounding the lid opening and closing device 100. The shutter 50 and the shutter drive mechanism 60 are provided for each entrance portion (each stage 10) into which the container 3 is inserted. The housing 70 has two side walls 71 and a back 73. The side wall portions 71 are disposed on the + X side and the-X side of the lid opening and closing device 200, respectively. Note that the elevation mechanism 40 is not described in the cover opening/closing device 200 shown in fig. 10. The rear surface 73 of the housing 70 is provided with an opening, not shown. The opening is provided corresponding to the container 3 placed on the placement stage 10. The taking out of the reticle R accommodated in the container 3 or the placing of the reticle R in the container 3 is performed through an opening not shown.

The shutter 50 is, for example, plate-shaped and is disposed between the two side walls 71 of the housing 70. The shutters 50 are provided with window portions 50a through which the inside of the housing 70 can be visually observed. The shutter 50 is movable into a closed state in which the inlet portion of the insertion container 3 is closed and an open state in which the inlet portion is opened. The shutter 50 is in the vertical direction in the direction along the plane in the closed state, and is in the horizontal direction or substantially horizontal direction in the direction along the plane in the open state. The shutter 50 is provided with coupling portions 51 at both ends in the X direction and at the upper end in the closed state. The two side walls 71 are provided with groove portions 72 corresponding to the movement locus of the coupling portion 51. The shutter 50 is suspended from the coupling portion 51 (in a state of being supported by the coupling portion 51 in a cantilever manner). The groove portion 72 is provided in an upwardly convex circular arc shape as viewed in the X direction. The length of the groove 72 in the longitudinal direction is set to a length necessary for opening the shutter 50. The width (length orthogonal to the longitudinal direction) of the groove portion 72 is set to a width necessary for the movement of the coupling portion 51.

The shutter 50 has a magnet 52 on the lower and inner surface side in the closed state (see fig. 11, 12, and the like). The lid opening/closing device 200 includes an attracted portion 53 to which the magnet 52 is attracted, below the mounting base 10. The attracted portion 53 may be provided on the shutter 50, and the magnet 52 may be provided below the mounting table 10.

The gate drive mechanism 60 includes a drive unit 61, a link member 62, and a gate support roller 63 (see fig. 12). The driving unit 61 is, for example, a cylinder device, but is not limited to this configuration, and other configurations such as an electric motor and a ball screw mechanism may be used. The driving unit 61 according to the present embodiment includes a cylinder 61a and a shaft 61 b. The cylinder 61a is supported by the side wall portion 71 via a shaft member 61d provided along the X direction. The cylinder 61a is rotatable about the axis X around the shaft member 61 d. The shaft 61b is capable of reciprocating in a direction protruding from the cylinder 61a and a direction housed in the cylinder 61 a. A bearing portion 61c is provided at the tip of the shaft 61 b.

The link member 62 couples the driving unit 61 of the shutter driving mechanism 60 and the coupling portion 51 of the shutter 50, and transmits the driving force of the driving unit 61 to the shutter 50 via the coupling portion 51. The link member 62 is, for example, a triangular plate-like body. One of the 3 corners of the link member 62 is supported by the side wall portion 71 via the shaft member 62 a. The link member 62 is rotatable about the axis X about the shaft member 62 a. One of the 3 corners of the link member 62, which is different from the above corner, is coupled to a bearing portion 61c at the distal end of the shaft 61 b. The link member 62 is relatively rotatable about the X axis with respect to the bearing portion 61 c. One of the 3 corners of the link member 62, which is different from the 2 corners, is connected to the connecting portion 51. The link member 62 is relatively rotatable about the X axis with respect to the coupling portion 51.

Fig. 11 (a) to (C) and fig. 12 (a) to (C) are views showing an example of an operation of opening and closing the shutter 50. Fig. 11 shows a state outside the side wall portion 71, and fig. 12 shows a state inside the side wall portion 71. The shutter 50 may be opened or closed automatically by a control device not shown, or manually by an operator. In fig. 11 and 12, the upper and lower shutters 50 are driven simultaneously, but may be driven independently.

As shown in fig. 11 (a), the shaft 61b of the driving unit 61 is caused to protrude from the cylinder 61a by a predetermined length, whereby the link member 62 is disposed at the end in the clockwise direction about the shaft member 62 a. In this case, as shown in fig. 12 (a), the coupling portion 51 of the shutter 50 is disposed at the end of the groove portion 72 on the front side (-Y side). At the position of the connection portion 51, the shutter 50 hangs down toward the front side of the shutter support roller 63, and the shutter 50 is closed. In the closed state of the shutter 50, the magnet 52 disposed at the lower end is attracted to the attracted portion 53. Thus, the closed state of the shutter 50 is maintained.

When the shutter 50 is in the closed state, the intrusion of particles from the outside can be suppressed. As shown in fig. 12 a, the shutter 50 is not present above the vertically movable member 31 (the lower guide 20 and the upper guide 30). Therefore, in the closed state of the shutter 50, the lower guide portion 20 and the upper guide portion 30 can be lifted and lowered without interfering with the shutter 50. On the other hand, the inlet portion of the insertion container 3 is closed by the shutter 50, and therefore the insertion container 3 cannot be inserted.

Next, as shown in fig. 11B, the shaft 61B is moved in a direction (contracting direction) in which the cylinder 61a is housed, whereby the link member 62 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft member 62 a. As shown in fig. 12 (B), by the rotation of the link member 62, the coupling portion 51 is pulled toward the back side (+ Y side) and the shutter 50 rotates about the shutter support roller 63 as a fulcrum, so that the magnet 52 is separated from the attracted portion 53 and the shutter 50 is gradually opened. Then, the shutter 50 moves to the back side (+ Y direction) in a state where the inner surface side of the shutter 50 is supported by the shutter support roller 63.

As shown in fig. 11 (C), by housing the shaft 61b further in the cylinder 61a, the link member 62 further rotates counterclockwise about the shaft member 62 a. By the rotation of the link member 62, the coupling portion 51 moves to the end of the groove 72 on the back side (+ Y side) as shown in fig. 12C. By the movement of the connection portion 51, the shutter 50 moves to the back side (+ Y direction) in a state where the inner surface side of the shutter 50 is supported by the shutter support roller 63. As a result, the shutter 50 is in a posture substantially parallel to the horizontal direction, and the upper portion of the shutter 50 is accommodated in the housing 70 in the closed state, and the shutter 50 is in the open state.

In the opened state of the shutter 50, the inlet portion of the insertion container 3 is opened. Therefore, the container 3 can be inserted onto the stage 10 without interfering with the shutter 50. On the other hand, in the opened state of the shutter 50, the shutter 50 is disposed above the vertically movable member 31 (the lower guide portion 20 and the upper guide portion 30). Therefore, the vertically movable member 31 (the lower guide 20 and the upper guide 30) cannot move up and down due to interference with the shutter 50. As a result, in the opened state of the shutter 50, the upper lid 2 can be prevented from being lifted from the container body 1 and the reticle R can be prevented from being exposed.

When the shutter 50 is brought from the open state to the closed state, the coupling portion 51 is positioned on the front side (-Y side) of the groove portion 72 by the reverse operation to the above. As a result, the shutter 50 is suspended from the coupling portion 51, and as shown in fig. 11 (a) and 12 (a), the inlet portion of the insertion container 3 is closed.

As described above, according to the lid opening and closing device 200 of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the locking mechanism 4 of the container 3 can be released only by inserting the container 3 in the horizontal direction to the predetermined position P of the mounting base 10, and therefore, the device can be prevented from being enlarged. Further, according to the lid opening/closing device 200, since the shutter 50 capable of opening and closing the inlet side of the container 3 is provided, it is possible to suppress the inflow of the outside air into the lid opening/closing device 200.

The embodiments have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above description, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the configuration in which the inclined portion 11 is provided at the end portion on the inlet side of the mounting table 10 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and a configuration in which the inclined portion 11 is not provided may be adopted. Instead of the inclined portion 11, a curved surface may be provided.

In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the curved surface 21 is provided at the inlet-side distal end portion of the lower guide 20 has been described as an example, but the configuration is not limited to this, and a configuration in which an inclined surface is provided instead of the curved surface 21 may be employed. Further, both the inclined surface and the curved surface 21 may not be provided.

In the above embodiment, the configuration of the upper guide 30 that abuts the upper surface of the side portion 2a of the upper cover 2 facing above the plate portion 5a when the container 3 is inserted to the predetermined position P of the mounting base 10 in the horizontal direction has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Instead of abutting on the upper surface of the side portion 2a, the upper guide portion 30 may abut on a part of the upper surface of the upper cover 2. The upper guide 30 may not be provided. For example, when the container 3 is heavy, the container 3 (the upper lid 2) does not move upward at the same time even if the plate portion 5a is rotated upward by the lower guide portion 20. Therefore, in the case of such a container 3, the upper guide portion 30 may not be provided.

In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the upper cover 2 is held with the locking mechanism 4 unlocked by the lower guide portion 20 and the upper guide portion 30 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the locking mechanism 4 may be unlocked by the lower guide portion 20 and the upper guide portion 30, and the upper cover 2 may be held by another holding portion and raised.

One or more of the elements described in the above-described embodiments may be omitted. The elements described in the above embodiments and the like can be combined as appropriate. Further, the disclosure of japanese patent application laid-open No. 2019-030400 and all documents cited in the above embodiments and the like are incorporated as a part of the description herein as far as the law permits.

Description of the symbols

G: trough

L: a predetermined distance

P: set position

R: intermediate mask

1: container body

2: upper cover

2 a: side part

2 c: projecting piece

3: container with a lid

4: locking mechanism

5: locking member

5 a: plate part

5 c: claw part

10: loading platform

11: inclined part

20: lower guide part (guide part)

20 a: upper surface of

21: curved surface

30: upper guide part

30 a: lower surface

40: lifting mechanism

41: lifting driving part

50: gate valve

52: magnet

53: adsorbed part

60: gate driving mechanism

61: driving part

62: connecting rod component

71: trough part

100. 200: a cover opening and closing device.