Abstract: Apparatus for the manufacture of a component such as an integrated circuit chip, including: a plurality of processing stations forming a production line for the manufacture of the component, a conveyor adapted to transport component forming materials from one processing station to another in the production line, and a storage on the production line for storing the materials during transport along the production line. The storage acts as buffers effectively to collect materials and store them for efficient transport along the production line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compartment 10 having a space 32 segregated from air outside the compartment and capable of housing a product apparatus for assembly of, for example, semiconductor devices and integrated circuit packages in a “clean” environment. The compartment 10 includes panels 16 to segregate the air inside the compartment 10 from the surrounding environment. At the front of the compartment 10, there is a top access panel 12 and a bottom access panel 14 to access a production apparatus (not shown) which is houseable or storable within a space 32 for such apparatus defined within the compartment 10. Where it is desired to place a plurality of similar compartments 10 adjacent to one another to provide a production line, an opening 18 can be included in one or both of the side panels 16 for transfer of processed material, such as leadframes for assembling integrated circuit packages, from one production apparatus to another, housed in respective adjacent compartments 10.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for the manufacture of a component such as an integrated circuit chip, including: a plurality of processing stations (14a, 14b, 16, 18a, 18b, 18c, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) forming a production line for the manufacture of said component: conveying means (42) adapted to transport component forming materials from one processing station to another in the production line; and storage means (17) of the production line for storing said materials during transport along the production line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compartment 10 having a space 32 segregated from air outside the compartment and capable of housing a product apparatus for assembly of, for example, semiconductor devices and integrated circuit packages in a “clean” environment. The compartment 10 includes panels 16 to segregate the air inside the compartment 10 from the surrounding environment. At the front of the compartment 10, there is a top access panel 12 and a bottom access panel 14 to access a production apparatus (not shown) which is houseable or storable within a space 32 for such apparatus defined within the compartment 10.