Abstract: A cassette (10) for storing a plurality of items in a parallel registration is disclosed. The cassette is specifically designed to be lightweight and is reinforced (50, 52, 54) to prevent warpage, bending, flexing or breaking of the cassette. Means (66, 68, 70) for indexing the cassette to a surface for precise insertion and removal of items are also described.

Abstract: A package for storing and shipping semiconductor wafers or memory disks is disclosed. The carrier includes a bottom, a cover and a cassette. An improved closure arrangement is provided that not only secures the cover to the bottom, but also compensates for pressure differentials between the inside and outside of the package and provides for improved drainage during washing operations.

Abstract: A vacuum actuated mechanical latch is attachable to a hermetically sealable container. The latch is attached, formed, or otherwise integral with the door of the container. The latch is easily engaged and disengaged by processing equipment. Also, the latch is designed to minimize the amount of abraded particulate and further isolate any particulate generated. Further, when the door is latched to the container, the latch is not easily overcome by jarring or bumping. The lead-in surface of the latch is angled to minimize friction when the latch is forced into a first locking position.

Abstract: A container for creating a microenvironment is disclosed. The container includes a shell, a door and a plurality of supports having a unique design which are used to securely retain items, such as silicon wafers, in a spaced apart parallel relationship. The supports are removable. An electrical path is provided to ground the supports. Kinematic coupling structures are also provided for positioning the container on a surface so as to, for example, properly align the door with the port of a wafer processing tool.

Abstract: An improved disk cassette, particularly advantageous for the containment of data storage disks, having a plurality of adjacently disposed rib members, wherein each rib member has an improved cross-sectional profile such that engagement grooves defined therebetween have a dual angle configuration which maintain each disk in radial contact at four different areas along the chamfered periphery thereof to minimize particulation from forming within the disk cassette. More particularly, the improved disk cassette restricts the mobility of the disks and minimizes the amount of contact area between the disks and the disk cassette so as to collectively reduce the propensity for particulation. The improved disk cassette of the present invention is also streamlined in terms of the amount of material required for manufacture, thereby decreasing the cost of materials, the cycle time for curing, and overall cost of manufacture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reclaiming component plastics from a mixture of plastics wherein differentials in specific gravity serves as the segregation mechanism. The method includes the steps of: (1) fragmenting the plastic articles such that the resulting plastic fragments are generally of a preferred dimension and contain primarily one such component plastic; (2) sizing the fragmented plastic so as to remove plastic fragments which do not comport to the preferred dimensions; (3) adding a fluid medium to the plastic fragments to produce a slurry; (4) loosening contamination from the plastic fragments; (5) segregating the heavy and light components within the slurry based on specific gravity; (6) isolating the segregated plastic fragments; and (7) cleaning the heavy and light components to produce high purity plastic.

Abstract: A package for storing and shipping memory disks is disclosed. The package includes a base and cover designed to enclose and seal a plurality of disks held in a cassette. The base and cover include reinforcing gussets and members for securely retaining the cassette and disks so that the disks do not tilt, rattle or otherwise move during transport.

Abstract: A container (10) for shipping items, such as silicon wafers, rigid memory disks, photo masks, liquid crystal displays and flat panel displays, is disclosed. The container has a bottom (20) and a removable top (30). Mounted to the inside of the container are three cushions (50, 51, 52). When the cover (30) is in place, the cushions are centered on support lines (60) which are 120.degree. from each other. When so arranged, the cushions securely hold a plurality of items in a parallel, spaced-apart registration.

Abstract: A package for storing and shipping memory disks is disclosed. The package includes a base and cover designed to enclose and seal a plurality of disks held in a cassette. The base and cover include re-enforcing gussets and members for securely retaining the cassette and disks so that the disks do not tilt, rattle or otherwise move during transport.

Abstract: An enclosed semiconductor wafer holder, and a cover providing isolation control of semiconductor wafers that is simple, lower cost, and non-obtrusive is described. The cover includes a sealing perimeter that creates a hermetic seal when engaged with the semiconductor wafer holder. The holder also includes a purging arrangement attached to the holder that allows an active gentle purging of inert gas into the sealed semiconductor wafer holder.

Abstract: A ridged, transparent, thermoplastic package for transporting disk products such as substrate wafers, semi-conductor wafers or computer memory disks is disclosed. Elastomeric or flexible thermoplastic cushions hold the disk products in a manner which precludes them from becoming damaged during normal shipping and handling. The cushions have a plurality of disk engaging members which individually engage a disk. The disk engaging member conforms to the edge profile of the substrate wafer to securely hold the wafer. Wafer rotation is eliminated, particle generation is reduced and the cushions securely hold the disk products.

Abstract: A method for protecting substrates used in the manufacture of semiconductors, memory products, and other electronic devices from the effects of moisture during transport and storage is disclosed. This method involves the use of a cassette or box made from polycarbonate or another material having similar hydroscopic properties, treating the cassette or box to reduce its moisture content, and surrounding the cassette or box, and the substrates held therein, with a moisture barrier. This results in a package which will keep the substrates dry and eliminates the need for a separate desiccant within the package.

Abstract: A milled carbon fiber reinforced polymer having increased abrasion resistive characteristics. The reinforced polymer comprises a base resin selected from the group consisting of polyolefins and polyamides. The base resin is combined with an amount of milled carbon fibers and further may be combined with polytetrafluoroethylene. The resulting composite materials have excellent friction and wear characteristics and are useful in the production of injection molded parts. The molded parts have a high impact strength, exhibit dimensional stability, are abrasion resistive, and are static dissipative, with the composite materials having particular utility as support fixtures for semiconductors during certain processing operations.

Abstract: A ridged, transparent, thermoplastic package for transporting disk products such as wafers, semi-conductor wafers or computer memory disks is disclosed. Elastomeric or flexible thermoplastic cushions hold the disk products in a manner which precludes them from becoming damaged during normal shipping and handling. The cushions have a plurality of disk engaging members which individually engage a disk. The disk engaging member conforms to the edge profile of the substrate wafer to securely hold the wafer. Wafer rotation is eliminated, particle generation is reduced and the cushions securely hold the disk products.

Abstract: An enclosed semiconductor wafer holder, and a cover providing isolation control of semiconductor wafers that is simple, lower cost, and non-obtrusive is described. The device includes a cover with a sealing perimeter that creates a hermetic seal when engaged with the semiconductor wafer holder. It also includes a purging means attached to the holder that allows an active gentle purging of inert gas into the sealed semiconductor wafer holder. The holder has contoured recess-forming pairs that do not effect semiconductor wafer transfer when the recess forming pairs are warped. The recess-forming pairs also have integrally corresponding ribs that help prevent warpage of the contoured recess-forming pairs during the plastic injection molding process.

Abstract: This is an improved container having slidable storage cases propelled by a leaf spring into an open position after pushing down on a front catch. The container comprises a front half, a rear half and a handle, each molded from plastic. The front half and the rear half of the container are ultrasonically bonded together rotatably securing the handle between them. The front and the rear half have six case slots. The front half case slots are defined by a central vertical divider extending from the top to the bottom of the front half and three rows of horizontal M-shaped plastic dividers. Each M-shaped divider is essentially a spring with a lip on it at the central point of the M-shaped divider. The lip can be pushed down and snaps back into place. The rear half is divided into six case slots by a central vertical divider extending from the top to the bottom of the rear half and six sets of guide rails. Extending into the rear half from the back of the container are six leaf springs, one for each case slot.