Claims
- 1. In a docking and environmental purging system for purging the gas in a modular isolation container and docking the modular isolation container with a processing environment, said modular isolation container having an interior chamber and a door to the interior chamber for sealing the interior chamber, the improvement comprising:
- a vacuum manifold assembly for gripping and opening said modular isolation container door to allow access to said interior chamber; and
- means for initiating gripping and opening of said modular isolation container door by said vacuum manifold assembly.
- 2. The docking and environmental purging system of claim 1, wherein said vacuum manifold assembly comprises a plurality of suction cups for gripping said modular isolation container door.
- 3. The docking and environmental purging system of claim 1, further comprising means for initiating purging of said modular isolation container with a purging gas.
- 4. The docking and environmental purging system of claim 1, further comprising a source of vacuum, said vacuum manifold assembly including a plurality of suction cups connected for communication with said source of vacuum for gripping said modular isolation container door.
- 5. The docking and environmental purging system of claim 3, further comprising a duct connected for receiving a supply of purging gas, a filter for filtering said purging gas, and a blower connected to said docking chamber for fluid communication therewith for purging the gas in said interior chamber.
- 6. The docking and environmental purging system of claim 5, wherein said purging gas comprises nitrogen.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/916,021 filed Aug. 21, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,933, which was a continuation of Ser. No. 08/503,677 filed Jul. 18, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,123.
US Referenced Citations (16)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
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0 358 443 |
Mar 1990 |
EPX |
1-222429 |
Sep 1989 |
JPX |
5-299312 |
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Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
916021 |
Aug 1997 |
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Parent |
503677 |
Jul 1995 |
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