Patent EP0151336A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0151336A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for integrated circuit processing
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1984-09-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A particle-free dockable interface is disclosed for linking together two spaces (10,90) each enclosing a clean air environment and preventing the opening of the interface without the presences of two mating system components. The interface comprises interlocking doom (60, 100) on each space which fit together to trap particfes which have accumulated from the dirty ambient environment on the outer surfaces of the doors. An interlocking latch is disclosed which comprise a latch spring (603) and latch foot assembly (605) coupled to a first one of the two clean air spaces and a mating door pull (617) and port latch assembly (613) coupled to the second of the two clean air spaces. The latch foot, door pull, and port latch assemblies are constructed so that the interlock doors cannot be opened unless the first and second clean air spaces are properly aligned and mated.
Inventors
- 👤 Mihir Parikh
- 👤 Barclay J. Tullis
- 👤 David Lawrence Thrasher
- 👤 Mark E. Johnston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:46
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/30; H10P72/34; H10P72/3406; H10P72/3408
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An interface between first and second containers characterized by: alignment means (95) for orienting the first container in a fixed position relative to the second container; first closure means (100) for independently sealing the first container; second closure means (60) for independently sealing the second container; each closure means being arranged to mate with the other so that substantially all contamination accumulating on exterior surfaces of the closure means when the containers are separated will be trapped therebetween when the containers are positioned together by said alignment means; and means (70) for moving the closure means while mating together into one of the containers as a single unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An interface between first and second containers characterized by: alignment means (95) for orienting the first container in a fixed position relative to the second container; first closure means (100) for independently sealing the first container; second closure means (60) for independently sealing the second container; each closure means being arranged to mate with the other so that substantially all contamination accumulating on exterior surfaces of the closure means when the containers are separated will be trapped therebetween when the containers are positioned together by said alignment means; and means (70) for moving the closure means while mating together into one of the containers as a single unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An interface according to claim 1 characterized in that mating surfaces of the closure means contact substantially only in a region within a limited distance around the entire outer perimeters of said doors, so that the surface area of contact is small relative to the total surface areas of the closure means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An interface according to claim 2 characterized in that the surface area of contact is less than 20% of the total surface areas of the closure means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An interface according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said closure means comprises first and second doors (100,60) arranged to be held together by gravity while the interface is being transported.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An interface according to claim 4 and further characterized by a gutter (297) around the lower perimeter of the lower of the first and second doors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An interface according to any one of the preceding claims and further characterized by latching means (185,187) coupled to said closure means for holding said closure means together while said interface is being transported.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
An interface according to any one of the preceding claims further characterized by interlock means (97) coupled to the first and second closure means (100,60) for inhibiting the opening of the first closure means except when the first and second containers are mated in the alignment means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
An interface according to claim 9 characterized in that said interlock means comprises: port latch means (613) coupled to the first container for maintaining the first closure means in a closed position when the port latch means is in a closed position and for permitting the first closure means to open when the port latch means is in a opened position; pull means (617) coupled to the first container for transporting the port latch means from the opened position to the closed position of the port latch means, said pull means being adapted so as not to independently transport the port latch means from the closed position to the opened position of the port latch means; and latch foot means (605) coupled to the second container for engaging the port latch means and pull means so that together the pull means and the latch foot means can transport the port latch means from the closed position to the opened position of the port latch means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
An interface according to claim 8 characterized in that said port latch means further comprises a first spring (626) to maintain the port latch means (613) in the closed position when the first and second containers are not mated in the alignment means, independently of the position of the pull means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
An interface according to either one of claims 8 and 9 characterized in that the latch foot means (605) is further adapted for maintaining the second closure means (60) in a closed position when the latch foot means is in a closed position and for permitting the second closure means to open when the latch foot means is in an opened position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
An interface according to claim 10 characterized in that the latch foot means further comprises a second spring (603) to maintain the latch foot means (605) in the closed position when the first and second containers are not mated in the alignment means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
An interface according to any one of the claims 8 to 11 characteized in that the latch foot (605) means is further adapted to engage the alignment means (95) when the port latch means (613) is transported from the closed position to the ground position by the joint action of the latch foot means and the pull means (617), so that the first and second containers cannot be separated when the port latch means is in the opened position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
An interface according to any one of claims 8 to 12 characterized in that the pull means (617) further comprises movement means (615,619) for transporting the pull means between first and second positions corresponding to the closed and opened positions respectively of the port latch means (613).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An interface according to claim 13 characterized in that the movement means comprises a double-acting pneumatic cylinder (615).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
An interface according to either one of claims 13 and 14 characterized in that the movement means comprises a pneumatic cylinder having a third spring to maintain the pull means (617) in the first (closed) position when the pneumatic cylinder is not energized.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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