Patent ID: 6054029
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: C23C,H01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for transporting substrates, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of stations including an entry station, several processing stations and at least one receiving station, the stations being arranged along a path; a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis and moveable vertically along the vertical axis; a plurality of gripper arms mounted on said turntable for movement with said turntable, each gripper arm having a free end remote from the turntable axis; and a plurality of substrate gripping devices each mounted at the free end of one of said gripper arms and each having substrate gripping means for releasable holding a substrate, wherein at least one of said gripper arms is movable in at least one direction relative to said turntable, and one of said substrate gripping devices can be shifted at least in a direction parallel to said vertical axis independently of the remaining gripper arms.