Patent ID: 7658586
Filing Date: 2010-02-09
Classification: B65G,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A system for processing wafers comprising: at least one loadlock including a wafer station wherein said wafer station is configured for supporting said wafers in a column within the loadlock; a transfer chamber in selective pressure communication with said loadlock; a processing chamber including at least one processing station such that the processing chamber is in selective communication with said transfer chamber and said wafers can be transferred between the loadlock and the processing chamber through the transfer chamber; and a swing arm arrangement including at least one swing arm that is pivotally supported in said transfer chamber and having a distal end that is configured for rotationally moving said wafers between the wafer station in the loadlock and the processing station, said swing arm being positionable in a home position within said transfer chamber, when said loadlock and said processing chamber are both in pressure isolation from said transfer chamber, and configured for swinging said distal end a first angular displacement in one direction from the home position to said wafer station such that any horizontal component of movement of the distal end from the home position to the wafer station is along one portion of a semicircular path and for swinging said distal end a second angular displacement in an opposite direction from said home position to said processing station such that any horizontal component of movement of the distal end from the home position to the processing station is along another portion of the semicircular path and the first angular displacement is different from said second angular displacement such that the loadlock and the processing chamber are simultaneously pressure isolatable from the transfer chamber and from one another substantially only when the swing arm is in the home position and said swing arm is configured for transporting said wafers directly into and out of said column by reaching into the loadlock and wherein said swing arm is configured for placing and picking said wafers to and from said processing station.