Patent ID: 11948817
Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Field: Semiconductors (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  B | IPC B  H

Claim 17:
18. A substrate processing system comprising:
a transfer region housing defining a transfer region, wherein a sidewall of the transfer region housing defines a sealable access for providing and receiving substrates;
a plurality of substrate supports disposed within the transfer region; and
a transfer apparatus comprising:
a central hub including a first shaft and a second shaft extending about and concentric with the first shaft, wherein the second shaft is independently rotatable from the first shaft,
a first end effector coupled with the first shaft, the first end effector comprising a plurality of first arms extending radially outward from the central hub to a distal end of each first arm of the plurality of first arms, wherein:
each first arm is characterized by an arcuate shape extending along a first arc path to the distal end of each first arm;
the first end effector further comprises a plurality of first end pieces; and
each first end piece of the plurality of first end pieces comprises a first contact member that engages a lateral surface of a substrate, and

a second end effector coupled with the second shaft, the second end effector comprising a plurality of second arms extending radially outward from the central hub to a distal end of each second arm of the plurality of second arms, wherein:
the second end effector further comprises a plurality of second end pieces;
each second end piece of the plurality of second end pieces comprises a second contact member that engages the lateral surface of the substrate;
each second arm is characterized by an arcuate shape extending along a second arc path to the distal end of each second arm; and
the second arc path is the first arc path mirrored about a lateral axis extending from the central hub normal to a central axis of the central hub, and
wherein each first end piece of the plurality of first end pieces comprises a spring loaded plunger translatable towards the second end piece, that is coupled with a respective one of the first contact members.