Material or article handling – Horizontally swinging load support – Swinging about pivot
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-10
2001-05-01
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Horizontally swinging load support
Swinging about pivot
C414S744600, C414S800000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224319
ABSTRACT:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to material handling devices and more particularly to material handling devices for use in processing electronic devices, such as silicon wafers, liquid crystal displays, flat panel displays, disk drives, and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Robots have heretofore been provided for handling electronic devices during the manufacture and testing of electronic devices. See in this regard U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,186,718, 5,577,879 and 5,682,795. Some of these currently available robots utilize a frog-leg arm arrangement for moving a platform or hand between retracted and extended positions. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,909,701, 5,180,276, 5,647,724, 5,569,014 and 5,720,590. These frog-leg arm arrangements, however, are relatively complex, space inefficient, and heavy. There is, therefore, a need for a new and improved robot which overcomes these disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus of the invention includes a material handling device comprising first and second upper arm members having respective proximal and distal end portions and first and second forearm members having respective proximal and distal end portions. First pivot means pivotally couples the proximal end portion of the first forearm member to the distal end portion of the first upper arm member and second pivot means pivotally couples the proximal end portion of the second forearm member to the distal end portion of the second upper arm member. Attachment means secures the distal end portions of the first and second forearm members together. A material handler is carried by the distal end portions of the first and second forearm members. The first and second forearm members have a retracted position in which the first and second forearm members extend linearly along an imaginary line passing through the first and second pivot means with the distal end portions of the first and second forearm members being disposed approximately midway between the first and second pivot means. A motor assembly is coupled to the proximal end portions of the first and second upper arm members for moving the distal end portions of the first and second forearm members in a first direction along a second imaginary line extending perpendicularly of the first imaginary line to a first extended position and in an opposite second direction along the second imaginary line to a second extended position. The distal end portions of the first and second forearm members pass through the retracted position when traveling from the first extended position to the second extended position.
The invention provides a material handling device in which a material handling platform can move forwardly and backwardly over the center of the device between two extended positions. The material handling device of the invention is relatively space efficient since the over center position reduces the device footprint. The material handling device includes a platform that moves along a straight line between two extended positions. Advantageously, the device of the invention is suitable for use in a clean room environment.
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Cameron James A.
Velikov Plamen
Equibe Technologies
Jaketic Bryan
Olszewski Robert P.
Weingarten, Schurgin Gagnebin & Hayes LLP
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