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Linear Drive
The CLEAN-DRIVE® conveyor is an asynchronous transport system for FOUPs, cassettes and pallets in the semiconductor, disk drive and pharmaceutical
manufacturing environments. It is one of several
versions of the ERECT-A-LINE® family of conveyors.
The CLEAN-DRIVE® system allows material movement within the factory that minimizes work in progress. Its inherent ability to create buffers and its constant availability to operators and process tools minimizes storage, cuts cycle time, and increases throughput like no other system.
Through the use of optional Auto-WIP/DS™ control software, autonomous carriers pursue available process tools based on real time dynamic tool, buffer, and system status.
This natural, statistically optimal, WIP flow throughout
the factory improves the fab operation curve of cycle time vs. tool utilization.
Elastomer covered driving wheels on one side of the drive element transport pallets or cassettes while they rest on load bearing idler wheels on both sides.
When a FOUP or cassette is stopped, the drive wheels
underneath it also stop. When it is released, the drive
wheels resume turning. While a FOUP or cassette is at
rest, the constant forward force exerted on it by the
driving wheels is ample to convey it forward when free,
but not sufficient to overcome a stop.
Forward motion of the FOUP or cassette can be stopped at any time by a hard stop mechanism creating a natural buffer of accumulated pallets or cassettes. SOFT BUFFERING™ can be achieved through the use of electronic sensors.
Because the drive wheels stop when a FOUP or cassette is at rest, there is no dynamic friction between them, making the CLEAN-DRIVE® unique, and eliminating the abundance of minute particles generated by friction based systems. |
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