Patent ID: 11915955
Assignee: TAKAOKA TOKO CO., LTD
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC G  H

Claim 0:
1. A workpiece inspection apparatus comprising:
a first stage configured to transfer a first table to an inspection position, the first table being a table on which a workpiece is loaded at a first transfer position;
an inspection tool configured to inspect the workpiece at the inspection position, where the inspection tool is in a state of unmoving;
a second stage configured to transfer a second table to the inspection position after retraction of the first table, the second table being a table on which another workpiece is loaded at a second transfer position;
a stage mover configured to independently reciprocate the first stage and the second stage in a cross direction that intersects respective transfer directions of the first stage and the second stage, the first stage and the second stage being arranged parallel to each other; and
a transporter configured to load the workpiece before inspection to each of the first transfer position and the second transfer position and unload the workpiece after inspection from each of the first transfer position and the second transfer position,
wherein:
after completion of inspection of the workpiece placed on the first table by the inspection tool, the stage mover replaces the first stage with the second stage at the inspection position by retracting the first stage in the cross direction;
during inspection of the workpiece placed on the second table by the inspection tool, the transporter unloads the workpiece after inspection and loads the workpiece before inspection at the first transfer position;
after completion of inspection of the workpiece placed on the second table by the inspection tool, the stage mover replaces the second stage with the first stage at the inspection position by retracting the second stage in the cross direction;
during inspection of the workpiece placed on the first table by the inspection tool, the transporter unloads the workpiece after inspection and loads the workpiece before inspection at the second transfer position; and
the workpiece is inspected with movement of the first table and the second table in small increments with respect to the inspection tool at the inspection position.