Substrate container with fluid-sealing flow passageway

Abstract

A substrate container includes an enclosure and an access structure formed in the enclosure and providing fluid access through the enclosure to an interior of the substrate container. The access structure includes an opening and an inner surface. A grommet is situated against the inner surface of the access structure.

1 . A substrate container, comprising an enclosure portion with an open side or bottom, a door to sealing close the open side or bottom; one of the door and the container portion having a purging port comprising a first access structure formed in the enclosure and providing fluid access through the enclosure to an interior of the substrate container, wherein the access structure includes an opening passing from interior the container to exterior the container, and wherein the access structure has a cylindrical inwardly facing surface; and a first elastomeric grommet having a generally cylindrical body, an inner facing cylindrical surface, and an outer facing cylindrical surface, the body sealingly engaged with the cylindrical inwardly facing surface of the access structure. 
     
     
         2 . A method of purging a substrate container comprising the steps of:
 selecting a substrate container comprising:
 a grommet having a bore with an interior surface, the grommet being formed of an elastomeric material, the bore defining a fluid flow passage, 
 an operational element situated at least partially within the bore and in sealing engagement with the elastomeric material on the interior surface of the bore, 
 the grommet having an elastomeric material exteriorly exposed with respect to the substrate container, the elastomeric material providing a seating surface, 
 contacting the seating surface of the elastomeric material with a purging nozzle, 
 compressing the elastomeric material with force from the nozzle thereby sealingly interfacing the grommet with a purging source, and 
 injecting a purging gas into the substrate container. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the substrate container has a door and grommet positioned with its face oriented downwardly, and further comprising the step of engaging the grommet from below the substrate container with the nozzle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of engaging the nozzle with a planar surface of the grommet that is normal to an axis of the grommet. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the contact of the nozzle is positioned around and radially spaced from the bore of the grommet. 
     
     
         6 . A method of purging a substrate container comprising the steps of:
 selecting a substrate container comprising an openable container having a door, a grommet formed of an elastomeric material having, an axis, a face and an opening extending therethrough, the grommet providing a flow passageway from exterior the container to interior the container, with   the face of the grommet having a planar surface substantially normal to the axis and surrounding a flow passageway,   coupling the face of the grommet to a purging gas source;   axially compressing the elastomeric material of the grommet with a force from the nozzle on the planar surface of the grommet thereby effecting a seal between the grommet and the nozzle radially outside of the flow passageway, and   displacing at least a portion of the interior gas with a gas from the purging gas source.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the displacing of the interior gas is accomplished by drawing the interior gas out of the substrate container with a vacuum. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the contact of the nozzle is positioned around and radially spaced from the bore of the grommet. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of engaging the nozzle with a planar surface of the grommet that is normal to an axis of the grommet.