STOCKER

摘要

The present invention comprises a for managing containers within a fabrication facility having a ceiling-based interbay material handling system a floor-based intrabay material handling system. In one embodiment, the stocker comprises a container storage area for storing at least one container, a ceiling-based input conveyor, a floor- based conveyor and a robotic mechanism. The ceiling-based input conveyor receives containers from the ceiling based interbay material handling system. The stocker's floor- based conveyor may comprise an output conveyor, an input conveyor or both, and moves containers between the stocker's container storage area and the floor-based intrabay material handling system. A robotic mechanism moves containers between the ceiling- based input conveyor, the container storage area and the floor-based conveyor. Figure 4.