Automated material handling system

Abstract

An automated material handling system includes a plurality of bays, a continuous conveyer and at least one vehicle. Each bay has a plurality of tools and a stocker. The stocker is a rectangular solid having a first long side and a second long side. The first long side equips with a plurality of transferring ports connecting to the tools and the second long side equips with at least one transferring port connecting to the continuous conveyer. The vehicle is guided along the continuous conveyer for handling materials between the stockers.

1 . An automated material handling system, comprising: 
 a first bay having a first tool and a first stocker, the first stocker having a first side and a second side that have respectively a plurality of first transferring ports, the first tool being connected to the first transferring ports on the first side;    a second bay having a second tool and a second stocker, the second stocker having a third side and a fourth side that have respectively a plurality of second transferring ports, the second tool being connected to the second transferring ports on the third side;    a continuous conveyer connecting at least one of the first transferring ports of the first bay to at least one of the second transferring ports of the second bay; and    at least one vehicle moving along the continuous conveyer for transporting materials between the stockers by the continuous conveyer.    
   
   
       2 . The automated material handling system of  claim 1 , further comprising a crane between the first side and the second side of the first stocker.  
   
   
       3 . The automated material handling system of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous conveyer is an overhead type bracing by a ceiling and the stockers.  
   
   
       4 . The automated material handling system of  claim 1 , wherein the stockers have a plurality of buffer zones located in the vertical direction of the transferring ports.  
   
   
       5 . The automated material handling system of  claim 1 , wherein the first transferring ports of the first bay and the second transferring ports of the second bay are two-way transferring ports.  
   
   
       6 . The automated material handling system of  claim 1 , wherein the the continuous conveyer is a two-way conveyer.  
   
   
       7 . The automated material handling system of  claim 6 , further comprising a control logic, the control logic linking signals of the first bay and the second bay, the interlock circuit equipment controlling transport direction of the conveyer between the first bay and the second bay.  
   
   
       8 . The automated material handling system of  claim 6 , further comprising an interlock circuit equipment, the control logic linking signals of the first bay and the second bay, the interlock circuit equipment controlling transport direction of the conveyer between the first bay and the second bay.  
   
   
       9 . A method of transporting materials in an automated material handling system, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first bay having a first tool and a first stocker, the first stocker having a first side and a second side that have respectively a plurality of first transporting ports, the first tool being connected to the first transferring port on the first side;    providing a second bay having a second tool and a second stocker, the second stocker having a third side and a fourth side that have respectively a plurality of second transporting ports, the second tool being connected to the second transferring port on the third side;    connecting at least one of the first transferring ports of the first bay to at least one of the second transferring ports of the second bay by a continuous conveyer; and    transporting materials between the stockers by at least one vehicle moving along the continuous conveyer.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising a step of loading the materials in a cassette before transporting.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first transferring ports of the first bay and the second transferring ports of the second bay are two-way transferring ports.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first bay provides a upstream manufacturing process, and the second bay provides a downstream manufacturing process, the continuous conveyer transporting the materials in a reverse direction from the second bay to the first bay.