Patent ID: 6059517
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: C23C,Y10S

Abstract:
In combination in an end effector for transferring a substrate between a cassette module and a process module, the substrate having a central portion for receiving a deposition material and having a peripheral portion on which no material is to be deposited,a body,a web extending from the body,first means operatively coupled to the body and the web for holding the web in a rigidified relationship to the body,the body and the web being constructed and disposed relative to each other in the rigidified relationship of the body and the web to support the peripheral portion of the substrate on the body and the web without any contact of the central portion of the substrate with either the web or the body,a transport module disposed between the cassette module and the process module for holding the body and the web,second means for rotating the body and the web in the transport module to face the body toward a selective one of the cassette module and the process module,third means extending from the body for transferring the substrate between the transport module and the selective one of the cassette module and the process module, andfourth means extending through the body and into the web, and having an adjustable disposition in the body, for maintaining the web in a balanced relationship with respect to the body to maintain the peripheral portion of the substrate on the body and the web without any contact of the central portion of the substrate with either the body or the web.