Patent ID: 6260899
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A force compensating apparatus for use in a wafer handling machine including a rotatable rim adapted to be concentric with and external to a wafer, a plurality of wafer supporting fingers disposed about said rim, each said finger supported by a floating arm that is a component of a support mechanism utilizing a duality of fixed arms bracketing said floating arm, said support mechanism attached to said rim by said fixed arms, each said finger preloaded with sufficient force to support said water among the plurality of fingers and each said finger generally positioned in a radial plane with said rim, said force compensating apparatus comprising:a fulcrum mechanism disposed an a fixed arm;a force receiving mass suspended on a first rod projecting from said fulcrum in a direction away from said floating arm; anda force transferring mass suspended on a second rod projecting from said fulcrum in a direction toward said floating arm;wherein said fulcrum, said force receiving mass and said force transferring mass form a balance with said rods essentially parallel to said fixed and floating arms, and said force transferring mass contacting said floating arm.