Substrate storage container and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

A substrate storage container includes a container main body, first supporting parts and second supporting parts. The container main body includes a back wall and a pair of side walls in order to store a substrate between the side walls. The first supporting parts are opposingly disposed on each side wall in order to support a peripheral edge part of the substrate. The second supporting parts are opposingly disposed on each side wall in order to support the peripheral edge part of the substrate and positioned between the back wall and the first supporting parts. The first supporting parts and the second supporting parts are covered with a resin layer having a lower frictional property than that of the container main body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a substrate storage container for storing various types of semiconductor wafers or substrates made of a photo-mask glass, a aluminum disc or the like.

2. Related Background of Art

A conventional substrate storage containers, which is not shown in the drawings, includes a container main body in which a plurality of substrates including semiconductor wafers are arranged and stored, a lid member which can be freely attached and detached, and which opens and closes the front surface constituting the opening part of this container main body, and an anchoring mechanism which fastens the lid member that covers the front surface of the container main body. Such containers are utilized as precision substrate storage containers. A plurality of supporting parts are respectively disposed on the inside surfaces of both side walls of the container main body and have a shape bent along a peripheral edge of the substrate in order to horizontally support the side portion of the substrate. A front retainer which retains the peripheral edge of the front part of the substrate is mounted on the inside surface of the lid member.

Such substrate storage containers are used for the safe transport of substrates from substrate production factories to processing factories. At these processing factories, the substrates are subjected to various types of treatments to produce semiconductor parts or parts used for the process of semiconductor parts (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 10-101177 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-111830).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Conventional substrate storage containers are constructed as described above, and are therefore susceptible to shocks during loading and transport by means of truck, air freight, ship or the like. When such containers are subjected to shocks, rubbing between the substrates and supporting parts causes damage to the substrates, and results in the generation of particulates that adhere to the surfaces of the substrates, so that they may cause significant problems such as a drop in the function and yield of products. In particular, as the pitch of electronic circuits of semiconductor parts has become finer in recent years, contamination by particulates has become a serious problem.

Conventionally, furthermore, a region of 3 mm in the inward radial direction from the peripheral edge part of the substrate has been treated as an exclusion region, which is not used in the working of semiconductor parts. In recent years, however, from the standpoint of achieving a finer pitch in electronic circuits and making products more compact, there has been a demand to increase the yield by narrowing the exclusion region. In order to satisfy such a demand, it is necessary to prevent contamination and scratching of the peripheral edge parts and back surface of the substrate.

In view of the above-mentioned facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a substrate storage container which can prevent scratching of the substrates and the generation of dust caused by rubbing between the substrates and the supporting parts, so that contamination and scratching of the peripheral edge parts and back surfaces of the substrates can be suppressed, and another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing such a substrate storage container.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a substrate storage container according to the present invention comprises a container main body including a back wall and a pair of side walls in order to store a substrate between the side walls; first supporting parts opposingly disposed on each side wall in order to support a peripheral edge part of the substrate; and second supporting parts opposingly disposed on each side wall in order to support the peripheral edge part of the substrate and positioned between the back wall and the first supporting parts, wherein the first supporting parts and the second supporting parts are covered with a resin layer having a lower frictional property than that of the container main body.

Further, the substrate storage container may further comprise an elastic retainer supporting the peripheral edge part of the substrate and disposed on the back wall of the container main body.

Further, the first supporting parts and second supporting parts may be respectively protruded from the side walls of the container main body, and a clearance is formed between the first supporting part and the second supporting part on each side wall.

Further, the side wall of the container main body may include a contacting portion in order to contact with the peripheral edge part of the substrate, and the contacting portion is positioned on an extension line of an intersecting center line perpendicular to a center line parallel to a direction of inserting and removing the substrate among the center lines passing on the substrate when the substrate is supported on the first supporting part and the second supporting part, and the contacting portion is covered with the resin layer.

Further, the side wall of the container main body may include a contacting portion in order to contact with the peripheral edge part of the substrate, and the contacting portion may be covered with the resin layer.

Further, the container main body may be made of a material including one of polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate, cycloolefin polymer, polyether imide, polyether ether ketone and alloy resin, and the resin layer may be made of one of polybutylene terephthalate and polyether ether ketone.

Further, the resin layer may include a flange formed inside the side wall and having an outer portion near an outside surface of the side wall and an inner portion near an inside surface of the side wall, and the outer portion may have a larger dimension than that of the inner portion.

Moreover, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a method according to the present invention is for manufacturing a substrate storage container including a container main body having a back wall and a pair of side walls in order to store a substrate between the side walls, first supporting parts opposingly disposed on each side wall in order to support a peripheral edge part of the substrate, and second supporting parts opposingly disposed on each side wall in order to support the peripheral edge part of the substrate and positioned between the back wall and the first supporting parts. The method comprising: forming the first supporting parts and the second supporting parts on the side walls of the container main body; covering the first supporting parts and the second supporting parts with a resin layer having a lower frictional property than that of the container main body; and forming the container main body by inserting the side walls in a mold for forming the back wall of the container main body.

Further, the method may further comprises: covering a contacting portion with the resin layer for contacting with the peripheral edge part of the substrate on the side wall of the container main body.

Further, the method may further comprises: forming the side wall with a through hole having a shape corresponding to a flange having an outer portion near an outside surface of the side wall and an inner portion near an inside surface of the side wall wherein the outer portion of the flange has a larger dimension than that of the inner portion; and filling the resin for forming the resin layers from the outsides of the side wall via the through hole.

Further, the substrate storage container of the present invention may comprise: a container main body storing a substrate; a cover opening and closing an opening portion of the container main body; first supporting parts respectively disposed on a pair of side walls forming the container main body and positioned on the side of the opening portion of the container main body in order to support a peripheral edge part of the substrate; and second supporting parts respectively disposed on the pair of side walls forming the container main body and positioned on an inside wall side of the container main body in order to support the peripheral edge part of the substrate, wherein at least the first and second supporting parts among the first supporting parts, second supporting parts and contact parts of the respective side walls that contact the peripheral edge part of the substrate are covered with a resin that has a lower friction property than that of the container main body, and an elastic retainer supporting the peripheral edge part of the substrate is disposed on the cover.

An elastic retainer supporting the peripheral edge part of the substrate can be disposed on the inside wall of the container main body, and at least a substrate supporting portion of the retainer may be covered by a resin layer that has a lower friction property than that of the container main body. A transparent window to ascertain the condition of the substrate can be selectively formed in a roof or a circumferential wall of the container main body.

Further, the first and second supporting parts can be integrally formed, and an intermediate part connecting the first and second supporting parts may be formed with a small thickness so that the intermediate part do not contact with the substrates. Further, in regard to the resin layer having a lower friction property, the measured value of the coefficient of friction with respect to steel as measured in accordance with ASTM D1894 may be than 0.33, preferably 0.20 or less.

In the present invention, at least the first and second supporting parts among the parts that might possibly contact with the substrate are respectively covered by engagement, molding or the like with a friction layer that has a lower friction property than that of the material of the container main body. Accordingly, for example, even if shocks or the like act on the substrate storage container, it is possible to suppress the scratching of the substrates or the generation of dust and adhesion of the dust to the substrate as a result of rubbing between the substrates and the first and second supporting parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective explanatory diagram showing the first embodiment of the substrate storage container according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory diagram showing a state in which the lid member is removed from the container main body of the substrate storage container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view showing the first embodiment of the substrate storage container according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the side wall in the first embodiment of the substrate storage container according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan-view explanatory diagram showing the side walls in the first embodiment of the substrate storage container according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment of the substrate storage container and method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment of the substrate storage container and method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the VIII-VIII in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment of the substrate storage container and method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment of the substrate storage container and method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional plan view showing a second embodiment of the substrate storage container according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached figures.

FIGS. 1 to 9 show a precision substrate storage container 100 used for shipping according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the substrate storage container 100 comprises a container main body 1, a lid member 10, a plurality of first supporting parts 20, and a plurality of second supporting parts 24.

A container main body 1 includes an opening portion 1F, a back wall 1B opposing the opening portion 1F, and two pairs of side walls 4 and side walls 4U, and the container main body 1 stores a plurality of substrates W between the side walls 4 and side walls 4U. The lid member 10 closes the front side of the container main body 1, which is the opening portion 1F of the container main body 1.

A plurality of first supporting parts 20 are respectively disposed on the pair of left and right side walls 4 forming parts of the container main body 1 and are positioned on the front side of the container main body 1. Specifically, a pair of the first supporting parts 20 are opposingly disposed on each side wall 4 to support a peripheral edge part of substrates W and positioned on the side of the opening portion 1F of the container main body 1.

A plurality of second supporting parts 24 are respectively disposed on the pair of the left and right side walls 4 forming parts of the container main body 1 and are positioned on the rear side of the container main body 1. Specifically, a pair of the second supporting parts 24 are opposingly disposed on each side wall 4 to support the peripheral edge part of substrates W and positioned on the side of the back wall 1B of the container main body 1. In other words, the second supporting parts 24 are positioned between the back wall 1B and the first supporting parts 20.

Contacting portion 5 are formed on the respective side walls 4 in order to contact with the peripheral edge parts of the substrates W so that the substrates W are contacted with the contacting portion 5, for example, when shocks or the like act on the substrate storage container 100. The first and second supporting parts 20 and 24 are covered with a resin layer 30 having a lower frictional property than that of the container main body.

As shown in FIG. 3, the substrates W are thin round semiconductor wafers which have a diameter of, for example, 300 mm. Specifically, the substrates W are made of silicon wafers in which at least one of the front and back surfaces is worked with mirror finish. An orientation flat or a notch with a semi-oval shape as seen in a plan view, both of which are used for alignment, is selectively formed in the circumferential edge part of each wafer, so that the substrates can be inserted and removed by a special robot.

The container main body 1 includes two pairs of recessions 1D opposingly formed in the inner periphery of the opening portion 1F (only the recessions 1D on the lower side are shown in FIG. 2). The lid member 10 includes a locking mechanism (not shown) for fastening the lid member 10 to the container main body 1. The locking mechanism is provided inside the lid member 10 and includes engaging portions which can protrude from the outer periphery of the lid member 10. The lid member 10 is mounted on or dismounted from the container main body 1 by operating the locking mechanism via the through operating holes 42. In addition to this locking mechanism, an anchoring mechanism can be provided on both side portions of the lid member 10 in order to be engaged with anchoring blocks 41 protruding from the front portions of side walls 4 of the container main body 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the container main body 1 is formed as a transparent front-open box type container main body by insert molding in which a pair of side walls 4 are inserted into a special mold, and the mold is filled with a predetermined material. The container main body 1 functions so that a plurality of substrates W (for example, 25 or 26 substrates) are lined up and stored at a specified pitch in the vertical direction.

There are no particular restrictions on the material for forming the container main body 1. For example, a resin such as polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate, cycloolefin polymer, polyether imide, polyether ether ketone or the like may be selectively used. In addition, a conductive resin produced by adding carbon, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, metal fibers, metal oxides, conductive polymers or the like may be added to such resins or alloy resins. Among these materials, polycarbonates, which are superior in terms of transparency, are especially desirable.

In the container main body 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the circumferential edge part of the front portion is bent outward in substantially an L shape as seen in a sectional view (See FIG. 3), so that a rim part 2 is formed. Positioning fittings used for positioning are disposed on both sides of the front part of the bottom surface and in the center of the rear part of the bottom surface. A robotic flange 3 to be held by an automatic conveying machine is mounted in a detachable manner on the central part of the roof.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and the like, both side walls 4 of the container main body 1 are respectively formed to have a bent shape so as to correspond to the shape of the substrates W, thus forming a plurality of first supporting parts 20 and second supporting parts 24. The first and second supporting parts 20, 24 are formed prior to the manufacture of the container main body 1. Then, after the contacting portion 5 and the first and second supporting parts 20 and 24 that contact the peripheral edge parts of the substrates W are covered by the resin layer 30, a portion of the container main body 1 is formed by inserting the side walls 4 into the mold used for the container main body 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lid member 10 comprises a housing body 11 and a cover 12. The housing body 11 is substantially dish-shaped in cross section and is engaged in a detachable manner with the rim part 2 of the front side of the container main body 1. As described above, the locking mechanism for fastening the lid member 10 to the container main body 1 is provided in the lid member 10. The locking mechanism of the lid member 10 engages with and closes off the container main body 1 by means of an operation from the outside. Examples of this kind of locking mechanism are disclosed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0230398 and United States Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0274645. The cover 12 is mounted on the surface of the housing body 11. An elastic front retainer 13 of the lid member 10 retains the peripheral edges of the front parts of the substrates W and is mounted on the opposite surface of the housing body 11 that faces the inside (that is, the back wall) of the container main body 1. Further, an endless sealing gasket 14 is engaged with the circumferential wall of the housing body 11. The sealing gasket 14 undergoes compressive deformation, and functions to seal the container main body 1.

The lid member 10 is molded with a resin such as a polycarbonate, fluorine-containing polycarbonate, polyether sulfone, polyether imide, polyether ether ketone or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 2 through 5, the plurality of first and second supporting parts 20 and 24 protrude separately inward from both side walls (specifically, the inside surfaces of both side walls) of the container main body 1. A clearance 25 is formed between these first and second supporting parts 20 and 24 on each side wall (See FIGS. 3 and 5).

As shown in FIGS. 3 through 7, the plurality of first supporting parts 20 are arranged in parallel at a specified pitch in the vertical direction on the inside surfaces of the respective side walls 4 forming the container main body 1. Further, the first supporting parts 20 are arranged in a position closer to the front side of the container main body 1, and support the peripheral edges of the side parts of the substrates W in a horizontal attitude via the resin layers 30. Each first supporting part 20 is covered with the resin layer 30 and formed in a substantially semicircular shape as seen in a plan view (See FIGS. 3 and 5) to have a thin region 21 and a thick region 22. The thin region 21 protrudes toward the inside of the container main body 1 from the inside surface of the corresponding side wall 4, and supports the peripheral edge of the side part of the substrate W in a horizontal attitude via the resin layer 30. The thick region 22 is formed on the outer side of the thin region 21 (that is, on the side of the side wall 4), and prevents the substrate W from jumping out or moving. Bumps 23 corresponding to the thickness of the substrate W are formed by the thin region 21 and the thick region 22 and shape the thin region 21 into a circular arc shape as seen in a plan view.

As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, 8 and 9, the plurality of second supporting parts 24 are lined up at a specified pitch in the vertical direction on the inside surfaces of the respective side walls 4 that form a part of the container main body 1. The second supporting parts 24 are arranged in a position closer to the back wall 1B of the container main body 1, and support the peripheral edges of the side parts of the substrates W in a horizontal attitude via the resin layers 30. Each second supporting part 24 is covered with the resin layer 30 and is formed in a substantially flat shape as seen in a sectional view (See FIGS. 8 and 9). The thin regions 21A protrude toward the inside of the container main body 1 from the inside surface of the side wall 4, and each thin region 21 A supports the peripheral edge of the side part of the substrate W in a horizontal attitude via the resin layer 30. In this embodiment, the “thin” region 21A mean that the thin region 21A is thinner than the thick region of the first supporting part 20. The upper surface of each thin region 21A is formed in a position corresponding to the upper surface of one of the thin regions 21 of the first supporting part 20 in the vertical direction. Further, each second supporting part 24 is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape as seen in a plan view.

The resin layers 30 are formed by a two-color molding method using a material having a lower frictional property and a higher wear-resistant property than those of the material of the container main body 1. Specifically, a polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is used as a material for the resin layers 30. When the coefficient of friction of the resin layers 30 with respect to steel is measured in accordance with ASTM (American Society for Testing and Material) D1894, the measured value obtained is less than 0.33, and is preferably 0.20 or less.

Such resin layers 30 function to cover the contacting portions 5 of the respective side walls 4 when the substrates W having a poor slipping property contacts with the contacting portions 5. Further, as mentioned above, the resin layers 30 also function to cover the front and back surfaces of the first supporting parts 20 and the front and back surfaces of the second supporting parts 24. In cases where the substrates W are supported by the first and second supporting parts 20 and 24 on the pair of side walls 4, as shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, an example of the contacting portions 5 of the respective side walls 4 is a plurality of inside surface portions 6 positioned on the extension lines EL of the intersecting center lines perpendicular to center lines CL parallel to the direction of inserting and removing the substrates W among the center lines passing on the substrates W when the substrate are supported on the first supporting parts 20 and the second supporting parts 24. Further, another example of the contacting portions 5 is the bent rear part inside surfaces 7 of the respective side walls 4 (See FIG. 3).

In cases where the container main body 1 is manufactured as described above, the mold for the side walls 4 is first filled with a material such as a polycarbonate or the like, and the respective side walls 4, the first supporting parts 20 and the second supporting parts 24 are integrally formed. At the same time, the contacting portions 5 for contacting with the peripheral edge part of the substrate is formed on the side wall of the container main body 1 in accordance with the shape of the mold for the side walls 4.

Further, the mold is filled with a resin having a lower frictional property and a higher wear-resistant property. Then the resin layers 30 covers the first supporting parts 20, the second supporting parts 24 and the contacting portions 5 of the respective side walls 4 that are to be contacted with the peripheral edge parts of the substrates W. Accordingly, the contacting portions 5, the first supporting parts 20 and the second supporting parts 24 are covered by the resin layers 30 and integrated with the resin layers 30.

When molding the resin layers 30, the mold is filled with the resin having a lower frictional property and a higher wear-resistant property from the side of the outsides of the side walls 4. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, it is desirable that the resin layers 30 include flanges 8 formed in the side walls 4. In this case, the resin for forming the resin layers 30 are filled from the outsides of the respective side walls 4 via through holes having the shape corresponding to the flanges 8. Each flange 8 has an outer portion 8a near an outside surface of the side wall 4 and an inner portion 8b near an inside surface of the side wall 4, and the outer portion 8a has a larger dimension than that of the inner portion 8b (See FIGS. 7 and 9). Owing to these flanges 8, the covering portions (that is, the resin layers 30) do not slip out. Specifically, if the flanges 8 with large dimensions are formed beforehand, then peeling or positional deviation of the covering resin layers 30 can be suppressed or prevented even in cases where the adhesive strength of the interface between the resin of the side walls 4 and the resin of the resin layers 30 is small so that a sufficient adhesive strength cannot be expected.

In the case of providing the flanges 8, the side walls 4 are formed with a through hole having a shape corresponding to the flanges 8 having the larger dimension on an outside surface of the side wall compared with the dimension on an inside surface of the side wall. Then the mold is filled with the resin for forming the resin layers 30 from the outsides of the side wall via the through hole

After the contacting portions 5 of the respective side walls 4 and the first and second supporting parts 20 and 24 have thus been covered by the resin layers 30, the pair of side walls 4 are inserted into the mold for the container main body 1. Then, a resin such as a polycarbonate or the like is injected into the mold and cooled and hardened, and a container main body 1 with side walls 4 integrated on both sides can be manufactured.

In the abovementioned construction, most of the container main body 1 that contacts the substrates W is covered by resin layers 30 which are elements independent from the container main body 1, so that the slipping characteristics against substrates W are improved. Accordingly, even if the substrate storage container is subjected to shocks, it is possible to prevent damage to the substrates W, which is caused by the rubbing of the peripheral edge parts or back surfaces of the substrates W and the first and second supporting parts 20 and 24. As a result, it is possible to conspicuously suppress or prevent a drop in the function and yield of the product.

Further, the yield can be improved by narrowing the exclusion region from the circumferential edge parts of the substrates W (for example, 3 mm in the inward radial direction). Further, since the conventional supporting parts having a shape bent along a peripheral edge of the substrate are divided into the first and second supporting parts 20 and 24 and caused to protrude separately, a clearance 25 is formed between the first and second supporting parts 20 and 24. Accordingly, the contact area with the substrates W can be surely reduced, so that contamination by organic matter can be greatly reduced.

Next, FIG. 10 shows a substrate storage container 200 as a second embodiment according to the present invention. In this case, a pair of left and right elastic rear retainers 9 support the peripheral edge part of the substrates W at the rear parts and are disposed on the back wall 1B (specifically, mounted on the inside surface of the back wall 1B) which is the inside wall of the container main body 1. In the substrate storage container 200, the first and second supporting parts 20, 24 are connected by intermediate parts 122. Accordingly, each set of the first and second supporting parts 20 and 24 are formed as a continuous integral body rather than being formed separately. The intermediate parts 122 connecting the first and second supporting parts 20 and 24 have a planar arc shape on their edges, and thicknesses of the intermediate parts 122 are smaller than those of the first and second supporting parts 20 and 24. Therefore, the intermediate parts 122 are apart from the inserted substrates W in the vertical direction and are shaped not to contact with the back surface peripheral edge parts of the substrates W. Accordingly, even if the substrate storage container is subjected to shocks, it is possible to prevent damage to the substrates W as well as the case of the first embodiment.

A plurality of pairs of the elastic rear retainers 9 are lined up in the vertical direction. The respective rear retainers 9 are superior in terms of elasticity, wear resistance and low frictional property, and are formed to have a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped cross section. The rear retainers 9 are formed with a material having less danger of contaminating the substrates W, e.g., a polybutylene terephthalate, polyether ether ketone, polyester type elastomer, polyolefin type elastomer or the like.

Each of the first supporting parts 20 has a thin region 21 and a thick region 22 as the first supporting parts 20 according to the first embodiment have. The thin region 21 protrudes toward the inside of the container main body 1 from the inside surface of the corresponding side wall 4, and supports the peripheral edges of the side parts of the substrates W in a horizontal attitude via the resin layer 30. The thick region 22 is formed on the outer side of the thin region 21, and prevents the substrates W from jumping out or moving. Bumps 23 corresponding to the thickness of the substrate W are formed between the thin region 21 and thick region 22. The remaining parts are the same as in the above-mentioned first embodiment; therefore, a description of these parts is omitted here.

Actions and effects that are substantially similar to those of the first embodiment can also be expected in this second embodiment. Further, since the respective substrates W are clamped and protected in the front and rear directions and rear retainers 9 by the front retainers 13 that have a shock-absorbing effect, it is clear that even if the substrate storage container is subjected to shocks during transport, there is no rattling of the substrates W, and the substrates W can be held in a stable manner.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the lid member 10 includes the locking mechanism to be operated from the outside via the through operating holes 42. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of or in addition to the locking mechanism, an anchoring mechanism may be disposed on the side portions of the lid member 10 in order to be engaged with the anchoring blocks 41 protruding from the front portions of side walls 4 of the container main body 1. Specifically, the anchoring mechanism includes partially hollow anchoring pieces respectively supported on both side portions of the lid member 10 so that the anchoring pieces can rotate around the axes on the side portions of the lid member 10 and engage in a detachable manner with the anchoring blocks 41 of the container main body 1. This kind of anchoring mechanism is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-111830. Further, in cases where the substrates W are supported by the first and second supporting parts 20 and 24 on the pair of side walls 4, the contacting portions 5 of the respective side walls 4 in order to contact with the substrates W may also be parts other than the inside surface portions 6 positioned on the extension line EL of the intersecting center line perpendicular to the center line CL parallel to the direction of inserting and removing the substrate W among the center lines passing on the substrate W. For example, the contacting portions 5 may be the plurality of bent rear part inside surfaces 7 of the respective side walls 4.

Further, the bent rear part inside surfaces 7 of the respective side walls 4 and the second supporting parts 24 may also be covered by the continuous resin layers 30, or may be covered by layers independently covering the respective side walls 4 and the second supporting parts 24. Further, the thin regions 21, the thick regions 22 and the bumps 23 may also be shaped not by the resin layers 30, but by the original shape of the first supporting parts 20 to be covered with the resin layers 30. Further, the side walls 4 including first and second supporting parts 20 and 24 may be integrally molded by being inserted into a mold for the container main body 1.

Moreover, the side walls 4 and container main body 1 may also be integrally formed by laser welding, thermal fusion or ultrasonic fusion. In this case, integration may be achieved by interposing a sealing member such as packing or the like between the respective side walls 4 and the remaining parts of the container main body 1. Further, the sealing member may be integrated beforehand with the side walls 4 or container main body 1, or may be formed as a separate member.

The present invention has the effect of being able to suppress the scratching of the substrates W and the generation of dust due to rubbing between the substrates W and supporting parts. Further, the present invention also has the effect of being able to suppress the contamination and scratching of the circumferential edge parts and back surfaces of the substrates.

Further, if an elastic retainers 9, 13 that support the peripheral edge parts of the substrates W are disposed on the inside surface of the container main body, looseness of the substrates W can be suppressed even if the substrate storage container 200 is subjected to shocks during movement.

Further, if the first and second supporting parts 20 and 24 are respectively caused to protrude separately from both side walls of the container main body, and if a clearance 25 is formed between these first and second supporting parts 20 and 24, the amount of material used in the first and second supporting parts 20 and 24 can be reduced. Further, since the contact areas with the substrates can be reduced, contamination accompanied by the contact can be reduced.

Here, substrates applicable for the present invention include various types of single or multiple semiconductor wafers (e.g., 200 mm, 300 mm or 450 mm types), liquid crystal glasses, photo-mask glasses and precision substrates such as aluminum discs or the like. The container main body 1 may be front-open box type, top-open box type, FOSB type or FOUB type, and may be transparent, opaque, or semi-transparent, and conductive or insulating.

Claims

1. A substrate storage container comprising:

a container main body including a back wall and a pair of side walls in order to store a substrate between the side walls;

first supporting parts opposingly disposed on each side wall in order to support a peripheral edge part of the substrate; and

second supporting parts opposingly disposed on each side wall in order to support the peripheral edge part of the substrate and positioned between the back wall and the first supporting parts,

wherein the first supporting parts and the second supporting parts are covered with a resin layer having a lower frictional property than that of the container main body.

2. The substrate storage container according to claim 1, further comprising:

an elastic retainer supporting the peripheral edge part of the substrate and disposed on the back wall of the container main body.

3. The substrate storage container according to claim 1,

wherein the first supporting parts and second supporting parts are respectively protruded from the side walls of the container main body, and a clearance is formed between the first supporting part and the second supporting part on each side wall.

4. The substrate storage container according to claim 1,

wherein the side wall of the container main body includes a contacting portion in order to contact with the peripheral edge part of the substrate,

wherein the contacting portion is positioned on an extension line of an intersecting center line perpendicular to a center line parallel to a direction of inserting and removing the substrate among the center lines passing on the substrate when the substrate is supported on the first supporting part and the second supporting part, and

wherein the contacting portion is covered with the resin layer.

5. The substrate storage container according to claim 1,

wherein the side wall of the container main body includes a contacting portion in order to contact with the peripheral edge part of the substrate, and

wherein the contacting portion is covered with the resin layer.

6. The substrate storage container according to claim 1,

wherein the container main body is made of a material including one of polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate, cycloolefin polymer, polyether imide, polyether ether ketone and alloy resin, and

wherein the resin layer is made of one of polybutylene terephthalate and polyether ether ketone.

7. The substrate storage container according to claim 1,

wherein the resin layer includes a flange formed inside the side wall and having an outer portion near an outside surface of the side wall and an inner portion near an inside surface of the side wall, and

wherein the outer portion has a larger dimension than that of the inner portion.

8. A method for manufacturing a substrate storage container including a container main body having a back wall and a pair of side walls in order to store a substrate between the side walls, first supporting parts opposingly disposed on each side wall in order to support a peripheral edge part of the substrate, and second supporting parts opposingly disposed on each side wall in order to support the peripheral edge part of the substrate and positioned between the back wall and the first supporting parts, said method comprising:

forming the first supporting parts and the second supporting parts on the side walls of the container main body;

covering the first supporting parts and the second supporting parts with a resin layer having a lower frictional property than that of the container main body; and

forming the container main body by inserting the side walls in a mold for forming the back wall of the container main body.

9. The method for manufacturing a substrate storage container according to claim 8, further comprising:

covering a contacting portion with the resin layer for contacting with the peripheral edge part of the substrate on the side wall of the container main body.

10. The method for manufacturing a substrate storage container according to claim 8, further comprising:

forming the side wall with a through hole having a shape corresponding to a flange having an outer portion near an outside surface of the side wall and an inner portion near an inside surface of the side wall wherein the outer portion of the flange has a larger dimension than that of the inner portion; and

filling the resin for forming the resin layers from the outsides of the side wall via the through hole.