Patent ID: 7543867
Filing Date: 2009-06-09
Classification: B65G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A vacuum gripper for use in substrate positioning operations, the vacuum gripper comprising: a vacuum pad adapted to make contact with a lower surface of a substrate; a shaft connected to the vacuum pad, wherein the shaft is characterized by a first diameter at a portion of the shaft proximal to the vacuum pad and a second diameter at a portion of the shaft distal to the vacuum pad; a first air bearing surrounding the portion of the shaft proximal to the vacuum pad; a second air bearing surrounding the portion of the shaft distal to the vacuum pad; an air source in fluid communication with the first air bearing and the second air bearing; an exhaust port in fluid communication with the first air bearing and the second air bearing; a valve in fluid communication with the exhaust port; and a first flow restrictor in fluid communication with the valve.