Patent ID: 7067018
Filing Date: 2006-06-27
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A workpiece handling system comprising: a workpieoe elevator positioned for moving workpieces substantially vertically up and out of a workpiece container; a carrier loader including a carrier gate opener, a carrier loading elevator, and a plurality of carrier shelves having a plurality of carrier holding positions, and a carrier loader robot movable to substantially each of the carrier shelves, and the carrier loader robot having a carrier engager, adapted to engage and hold a carrier; a buffer robot moveable between the workpiece elevator and the carrier loading elevator; a carrier at one of the plurality of carrier holding positions, with the carrier having a side opening and one or more workpiece retainers moveable between open and closed positions via the carrier gate opener, and with the carrier loading elevator moveable vertically through the side opening of the carrier, for loading and unloading workpieces into and out of the carrier.