Patent ID: 8678734
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: B65G,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A substrate processing apparatus comprising: a casing with a processing device within for processing substrates; a load port interface connected to the casing for loading substrates into the processing device; a carrier holding station connected to the casing, the carrier holding station being adapted for holding at least one substrate transport carrier at the load port interface; and a carrier loading and buffering system having a transport configured to interface with the carrier holding station for loading and unloading the at least one substrate transport carrier from the carrier holding station, wherein the transport of the carrier loading and buffering system is further configured to interface with a first carrier transport system, capable of moving the at least one substrate transport carrier from the substrate processing apparatus to another substrate processing apparatus along a first transport path, and with a second carrier transport system, distinct from the first carrier transport system, capable of moving the at least one substrate transport carrier from the substrate processing apparatus to the other substrate processing apparatus along a second transport path where the carrier loading and buffering system is distinct from the first and second carrier transport systems.