Systems and methods for transport through curves

• Main Authors: DAVIDSON BENJAMIN T, KITAZUMI BARRY
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.10.2008
• Subjects: CONVEYING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS; SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS; STORING; TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING ORTIPPING; TRANSPORTING

A transport system including a curved conveyance section configured for moving articles along a curved conveyance path. At least one turnstile wheel is configured to guide the articles along the curved conveyance path. In some embodiments, the turnstile wheel comprises a first surface configured to guide an exterior vertical belt along a continuous curve on an exterior edge of the curved conveyance path and a second surface configured to guide an interior vertical belt along a continuous curve on an interior edge of the curved conveyance path. The first surface and the second surface are configured to have a common axis of rotation outside the curved conveyance path and to rotate at a same angular velocity. The interior vertical belt and the exterior vertical belt are configured to support the articles as the articles are conveyed along the curved conveyance path. The articles are conveyed along the curved conveyance path without stopping or significantly slowing down. The articles conveyed may include semiconductor wafers or substrates for the manufacture of display devices.