Claims
- 1. An interfloor vertical transport and horizontal closure system comprising:
a vertical transport system extendable through an opening in a floor or ceiling, the vertical transport system comprising vertical elements defining a fixed horizontal cross-section within the opening; and a horizontal door system operative to seal the opening in the floor or ceiling comprising a door assembly comprising a frame mountable adjacent the opening surrounding the vertical transport system and a door movably mounted to the frame to seal the opening in the floor, the door including a leading edge profile having a configuration matching a configuration of an opposed portion of the fixed horizontal cross-section of the vertical transport system.
- 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical transport system further comprises a drive column and a robot assembly operable to travel vertically along the drive column.
- 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the drive column comprises an extrusion.
- 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the drive column includes track elements on which the robot assembly travels.
- 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the vertical transport system further comprises cabling extending from the robot assembly in a loop, and the leading edge profile of the door further includes a cable-receiving notch configured to receive a portion of the loop of the cabling.
- 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical transport system further comprises a semiconductor wafer transport system.
- 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the door assembly further comprises a closure mechanism disposed to bias the door into a closed position to cover the opening.
- 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the door assembly further comprises an anchorage mechanism disposed to releasably retain the door in an open position uncovering the opening.
- 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an actuator operative to move the door to a closed position.
- 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal door system further comprises:
a plenum mounted to the door assembly and suspended to depend below the opening in the floor or ceiling; and a lower door assembly connected to a lower end of the plenum and including a door movably mounted to close a lower end of the plenum.
- 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the door assembly further comprises a second door movably mounted to the frame in opposition to the door, the door and the second door disposed to converge around the vertical transport system.
- 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal door system comprises a fire door system.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Benefit is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/229,771 filed Sep. 1, 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60229771 |
Sep 2000 |
US |