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Adjustable cassette for substratesRelated Patent Categories: Supports: Racks, Special Article, Platelike, Semiconductor WaferAdjustable cassette for substrates description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060231515, Adjustable cassette for substrates. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a cassette for storing or transporting a plurality of substrates, particularly substrates such as liquid crystal panels. BACKGROUND [0002] Nowadays, various kinds of substrates (e.g., glass substrates) are used for the manufacturing of LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays), plasma displays, and hybrid ICs (Integrated Circuits). In various parts of the mass manufacturing chain, these substrates are loaded into a substrate cassette for storage or transportation. The substrate cassette can conveniently hold a plurality of the substrates, and has been widely used for carrying the substrates from one fabrication shop floor to another. [0003] A conventional substrate cassette is shown in FIG. 5. The cassette 10 includes a top frame 11, a bottom frame 12, and two side plates 13 interconnecting the top and bottom frames 11, 12. The side plates 13 include parallel supporting ledges 131 protruding inwardly therefrom respectively. The top frame 11, the bottom frame 12 and the side plates 13 cooperatively form a space 16, for accommodating substrates inserted along the supporting ledges 131. The cassette 10 also includes a plurality of vertical stopper rods 15 for retaining the substrates therein. [0004] However, any one manufacturer may have to deal with variously sized substrates used for making different products. When differently sized substrates need to be stored or transported, a new cassette for each size of substrate is needed. This increases the costs of storage and transportation. [0005] Thus another kind of substrate cassette has been developed. Referring to FIG. 6, a cassette 20 for holding and transporting substrates of varying sizes is shown. The cassette 20 includes a top frame 21, a bottom frame 22, a side frame 27, a fixed side plate 23, and a moveable side plate 24. The side plates 23, 24 include parallel supporting ledges 231 protruding inwardly therefrom respectively. The top and bottom frames 21, 22, and the side plates 23, 24 cooperatively form a space 26 to accommodate substrates therein. The top frame 21 has two parallel grooves 211, and the bottom frame 22 has two corresponding parallel grooves 221. The moveable side plate 24 can be slid along the grooves 211, 221 in order to adapt to new differently sized substrates. The moveable side plate 24 is fixed in a desired position by screws 29. [0006] The cassette 20 can adjust the size of the space 26 in order to adapt to variations in sizes of the substrates, by moving the moveable side plate 24 along the frames 21, 22 and fixing the moveable side plate 24 in its new position. However, to adjust the cassette 20, a tool such as a screwdriver is needed to unfasten and refasten the screws 29. In addition, the moveable side plate 24 must be disengaged and then reengaged each time an adjustment is needed. The required disengagement and reengagement can be troublesome and time-consuming. Moreover, the unfastened screws 29 are liable to be lost. [0007] Accordingly, what is needed is an adjustable cassette that can overcome the above-described deficiencies. SUMMARY [0008] An exemplary cassette for accommodating substrates includes a frame and supporting members. The frame includes a top shelf and a bottom shelf, which cooperatively defines a space therebetween. The top and bottom shelves each include at least two adjusting members with positioning slots. Each of the adjusting members includes a positioning slot and a plurality of keyways in communication with the positioning slot. The supporting members oppositely disposed in the space, and at least one of them includes a pair of adjusting shafts movable along the positioning slots and removeably engaging in the selected of the keyways of the adjusting members. [0009] Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic, isometric view of a cassette according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0011] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, exploded view of two supporting members of the cassette of FIG. 1. [0012] FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing two adjusting shafts of one of the supporting members disengaged from corresponding keyways of four adjusting members of the cassette. [0013] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a circled portion IV of FIG. 3. [0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic, isometric view of a conventional cassette. [0015] FIG. 6 is a schematic, isometric view of another conventional cassette. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0016] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail. [0017] Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic, isometric view of a cassette according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The cassette 100 is for holding and transporting substrates, and includes a frame 110 and two supporting members 120. [0018] The frame 110 includes a top shelf 111, a bottom shelf 112, and a plurality of supporting rods 113 interconnecting the top and bottom shelves 111, 112. The top shelf 111, the bottom shelf 112 and the supporting rods 113 cooperatively define a space (not labeled). The top and bottom shelves 111, 112 include four corresponding adjusting members 114, respectively. Each of the adjusting members 114 includes a longitudinal positioning slot 115, and a plurality of keyways 116 perpendicularly disposed at opposite sides of the positioning slot 115 respectively. [0019] The top and bottom shelves 111, 112, the supporting rods 113, and the adjusting members 114 may be made of aluminum, stainless steel or other metallic materials. For reducing the weight of the cassette 100, the frame 110 may be made of carbon fiber resin. Continue reading about Adjustable cassette for substrates... Full patent description for Adjustable cassette for substrates Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Adjustable cassette for substrates patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Adjustable cassette for substrates or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Cd wall tile Next Patent Application: Add-on hook and rod assembly Industry Class: Supports: racks ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Adjustable cassette for substrates patent info. 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