Patent ID: 6564818
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for assembling and operating a dual-sided slot valve in a semiconductor process cluster tool architecture, the method comprising the operations of:interfacing a housing of the dual-sided slot valve between a first module and a second module; providing the dual-sided slot valve with a first slot and a second slot for permitting transport of a substrate between the first module and the second module; providing a first door and a second door within the housing for enabling closure of the respective first and second slots; mounting the first door and the second door, wherein the mounting operation consists of mounting the first door and the second door to one common shaft; mounting the one common shaft to a dual-cradle assembly comprising first and second pivotally interconnected cradles and a separate drive for each of the cradles; and applying a slot closure force to the one common shaft to move the one common shaft toward one of the first and second slots to cause the door corresponding to the one slot to close the one slot and to allow the door corresponding to the other slot to keep the other slot open, the applying of the slot closure force being by actuating each of the separate drives to rotate the first cradle relative to the second cradle and to rotate the second cradle relative to the housing, the rotations of the pivotally interconnected first and second cradles moving the one common shaft toward the one of the first and second slots.