Configuration

White’s clean room carousels can be configured to handle just about any storage application. Current configurations include 200mm and 300mm wafers in SMIF, FOUP, and FOSBY containers, and various forms of reticle storage. Built-in readers for IR and RF tags, and bar codes can be supplied that will communicate through the tool’s controller onto the facility’s network. SEMI E.15.1 manual load ports are available as well as custom solutions for robotic, monorail, PGV, or AGV interfaces.

White’s clean room carousels may be located inside a clean room, fully utilizing all vertical space from the HEPA grid ceiling to the raised floor base slab. Units can span multiple floor levels to serve as storage devices and vertical lifts. Pass-through units can be located adjacent to a clean room to act as gateways and storage buffers. Freestanding units can be set up as mini-environments.

Design

White’s clean room carousels take advantage of a facility’s HEPA filtration system for increased economy. Laminar airflow from the facility is directed through the unit to protect stored product from contamination. Special internal baffles isolate the carousel mechanism from the internal storage area – keeping product free of particulates. Pans and equipment surfaces are specially designed to reduce particulate formation. Multiple door units are automatically controlled to allow only one open door at a time and to close the door after the transaction is complete – eliminating accidental cross-zone contamination.

White Systems’ clean room carousels incorporate heavy-duty components in a robust design, achieving 99.91% reliability in high activity applications.

Applications

• Semiconductor manufacturers
• Electronics manufacturers
• Aerospace
• Pharmaceuticals
• Biotechnology
• Medical device manufacturers
• Clinical and pharmaceutical research

Features and Benefits

Features

• Series of horizontal pans rotating in a vertical closed loop track bring product to operator
• Operates in ISO Class 3 to ISO Class 7 environments
• Particle control is achieved through vertical laminar flow of filtered air (supplied by facility)
• Special internal baffles isolate stored product from mechanism
• Externally sealed seams
• Special lubricants
• Pans and equipment surfaces specially designed to minimize particle formation
• Automatic doors
• Externally removable access panels
• Light curtain and infrared photo eye pinch point protection
• Available internal airflow and pressure regulating system
• Available enclosed external drives
• Available multiple opening enclosure (up to four doors)
• Available NFPA approved fire protection system
• Available light directed picking
• Available built-in bar code, IR tag, or RF tag readers
• Available software interfaces
• Available Ethernet communication
• Available SEMI E.15.1 load port
• Available emergency crank system
• SEMI S2 safety compliance
• SEMI S8 ergonomics compliance
• CE and ETL certified

Benefits

• Increased capacity – White Systems clean room carousels save up to 75% floor space by using all available space from ceiling to raised floor base slab
• Cost of ownership – space efficiency of White Systems clean room carousels can eliminate the need for new construction or reduce the size requirements for a new facility
• Multi-function efficiency – multiple opening carousels can act as gateways between clean rooms and non-clean areas or connect between two floor levels, eliminating additional air showers and vertical conveyors
• Maintains clean room integrity – automatic doors on pass-through units guard against accidental contamination when product enters or leaves the clean room through the carousel
• Improved ergonomics – product is delivered to operator at counter level, no bending, stooping or reaching
• Increased productivity – system queues picks and restocks to minimize carousel rotation and operator wait time
• Inventory control – built-in tag readers or scanners and White’s inventory control software allow the system to manage inventory flow at a local level and/or host level
• Emergency access – emergency crank system provides safe access to product without climbing ladders or entering the unit

Clean Room Carousel Specifications

Product Range

• Pan width: 58, 70, 93, 98, 104, 110, and 128 inches (inside dimension)
• Pan depth: 15-1/2, 16-1/2, 18-1/2, 24-1/2, and 25-1/2 inches (inside dimension)
• Pan pitch: 10-1/2, 12, 13-1/2, 15, 16-1/2, 18, 19-1/2, 21, and 22-1/2 inches
• Number of pans: 6 to 50
• Counter depth: 16 inches
• Carousel depth: 56-1/4 and 67-3/4 inches (not including counter)
• Carousel width: 84-1/2, 96-1/2, 119-1/2, 124-1/2, 130-1/2, 136-1/2, and 154-1/2 inches
• Max carousel height: 300 inches

Standard Features

Frame: Bolt-together modular design. Fully welded side frames and chain tracks. Removable internal isolation baffles. Built-in leveling feet and anchor clips. Externally sealed seams.

Pans: Perforated to promote laminar airflow. Single or dual access depending on application.

Main opening: 22 inch high opening at front of unit. Automatic door pneumatically operated.

Counter: Mounted below main opening at a height of 40 inches from floor. Perforated to promote laminar airflow.

Service opening: Lockable access panels at top of unit and below counter.

Controller: NEMA-12 style enclosure houses microprocessor control and motor drive at base of unit.

Operator interface terminal: Centrally or side mounted keypad with manual E-stop, enable, and jog buttons.

Safeties: Lockable disconnect switch, E-stop buttons, light curtain, infrared photo eyes, access panel interlock switches, and motor overload.

Drive motor: Internally mounted 5.0 hp continuous duty AC or DC gear motor with spring-set brake.

Conveyor mechanism: Heavy duty scissor arm assemblies. Fully enclosed stabilizer track. Three-piece drive shaft. Load chain safety factor: 7. Special lubricant.

Finish: Powder coat champagne exterior and interior panels. Special colors available.

Optional Features

Internal airflow regulating system:  Use to adjust air pressure and flow inside carousel enclosure.

Split Side Frame: Two piece side configuration available for through-floor installations.

External drive: Drive located outside of carousel enclosure in separate enclosure.

Lighting: Fluorescent task lights over counter.

Multiple access openings: Up to four openings allow pass-through and/or multiple level operation of carousel. Includes additional controllers, interlocked doors, and counters with or without light bars.

Fire protection: NFPA approved fire protection system built into carousel enclosure.

Pick-to-light: Indicator lights and/or digital displays built into counter top.

Tag readers: Built-in bar code, IR tag, or RF tag readers operate through carousel controller.

Communication: RS-232 or Ethernet.

Software interfaces: Spectrum Plus inventory control, or custom interface including SECS I, SECSII/GEM.

Mechanical interface: SEMI E.15.1 manual load port or custom interface for robotics, PGV, or AGV.

Emergency crank: Provides safe access to product without climbing ladders or entering the unit.

Courtesy outlets: Duplex outlets mount in left or right side post.

Step down transformer: Allows unit to operate on 460 V AC. 

Performance

Cleanliness levels: ISO Class 3 to ISO Class 7

Unit capacity: 25,000 pounds, gross load.

Pan capacity: 600/800 (optional) pounds maximum.

Pan speed: 35 to 40 feet per minute.

Maximum imbalance: 3,000 pounds.

Duty cycle: 100% continuous duty.

Operating temperature: 40º F to 120º F.

Application Notes

Power requirements: 208-230 V AC, three-phase, 30 A. As an option, the carousel can use 400-460 V AC, three-phase, 15 A.

Compressed air: A 90 PSI compressed air source is required for automatic doors.

Airflow: Customer to supply clean laminar airflow to unit.

Fire Protection: Pipes and fittings must be type 316 stainless steel.

Seismic: Zone 4 anchoring available. May require special anchors and clips depending on height of carousel.

Special requirements: All units are ETL listed and can be configured to meet ADA, CE, CSA, Seismic, and SEMI S2 and S8 standards.