The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 21, 2010
Filed:
May. 15, 2006
Anthony C. Bonora, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Michael Krolak, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Roger G. Hine, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Anthony C. Bonora, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Michael Krolak, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Roger G. Hine, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Muratec Automation Co., Ltd., Kyoto, JP;
Abstract
The present invention generally comprises an apparatus for transporting containers between a first transport system and a second transport system. In one embodiment, the first transport system comprises a ceiling-based conveyor and the second transport system comprises a floor-based conveyor. The present invention may further include storage shelves, preferably substantially horizontally aligned about a common vertical plane with a section of one of the transport systems. The transport system may be located either directly above the uppermost storage shelf or beneath the lowermost storage shelf in order to add storage capacity within the fab. A vertical module transports containers between the transport systems and the at least one storage shelf.