DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HANDLING POT-SHAPED HOLLOW BODIES, MORE PARTICULARLY TRANSPORT CONTAINERS FOR SEMICONDUCTOR WAFERS OR EUV LITHOGRAPHY MASKS

A device for handling pot-shaped hollow bodies, more particularly transport containers for semiconductor wafers or for EUV lithography masks includes a wall, which encloses an inner space, a gripping and moving apparatus arranged in an inner space for moving the hollow body within the inner space and a wall opening which is formed by the wall, can be closed by a closure body and through which the inner space is accessible. The device includes a lid handling unit which can be detachably connected to the lid. The lid can be connected to the lid handling unit and is separated from the hollow body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The preferred invention relates to a device for handling pot-shaped hollow bodies, in particular transport containers for semiconductor wafers or for extreme ultraviolet radiation (“EUV”) lithography masks. The preferred invention further relates to a corresponding method.

The manufacture of highly integrated electronic circuits and other sensitive semiconductor components takes place today in factories in which so-called semiconductor wafers run through a large number of processing steps. A large part of these processing steps takes place in clean rooms that are kept free of contaminants, in particular free of particles, with a high effort. Such a complex processing is necessary since particles that come into contact with the semiconductor material of the semiconductor wafers can in particular influence the material properties of the semiconductor wafers such that a total production batch becomes defective and unusable and has to be scrapped.

Since the keeping clean is becoming more and more important as the integration density of the semiconductor circuits and the effort to keep clean increase exponentially as the size of the clean rooms increases, the semiconductor wafers are not transported from one processing station to the next in an “open” state. Special transport containers (so-called FOUPs, front opening unified pods) are used instead. They are understood as box-shaped transport containers into which a large number of semiconductor wafers is inserted. The FOUPs are typically closed by a removable cover. Without the cover the FOUPs have a pot-shaped basic shape with a rectangular base surface. When the FOUPs are closed by their covers, the inserted semiconductor wafers can be transported from one clean room to another clean room protected from the environment. When the FOUPs have reached a processing station, they are opened, the semiconductor wafers are removed, and are processed accordingly. After processing has taken place, the semiconductor wafers are transported back into the FOUPs and are then conveyed to the next processing station.

Due to the high production downtimes on contaminations of the semiconductor wafers, it is necessary to clean the FOUPs from time to time. The FOUPs are in particular contaminated by the wear debris of the semiconductor wafers on the introduction into and the removal from the FOUPs.

The same applies accordingly to the transport containers for EUV lithography masks (“extreme ultraviolet radiation”). The EUV lithography masks are used to manufacture very small integrated circuits. The EUV lithography masks, like the semiconductors, also have to be transported, with a similar situation arising. When FOUPs are spoken of in the following, the statements in this respect apply equally to transport containers for EUV lithography masks.

Devices for cleaning FOUPs are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,503 A, International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2005/001888 A2, and European Patent No. EP 1 899 084 B1. It can in particular be seen from European Patent No. EP 1 899 884 B1 that such devices have a plurality of handling units in which different handling steps for cleaning the FOUPs are carried out. The FOUPs are transported from one handling unit to the next handling unit by means of a gripping and moving device that can, for example, be designed as a robot gripper.

As initially mentioned, the FOUPs comprise a cover by which the inner hollow body space can be closed. A cleaning of the FOUPs only at their outer surfaces admittedly also contributes to the reduction of defective semiconductor wafers; however, this contribution is considerably smaller in comparison with a cleaning at its inner surface. However, to be able to clean the inner surface, the cover has to be removed; as a consequence, the gripping and moving device used has to perform comparatively complex movement routines. Since the FOUPs are typically in a position during the cleaning process that is not changed during the cleaning process, the gripping and moving device has to have a relatively long radius of action to be able to grip and move the FOUPs. The gripping and moving device can moreover not always be operated at full speed.

The devices in which the FOUPs are cleaned typically have a wall that has a wall opening through which the inner space formed by the wall is accessible. The introduction into and the removal from the inner space likewise represents a time intensive step.

The gripping and moving devices used are expensive due to the named circumstances; the cleaning process moreover lasts relatively long due to the complex movement routines.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for handling pot-shaped hollow bodies, in particular transport containers for semiconductor wafers, by which it is possible to shorten the duration of the cleaning process using simple and inexpensive means.

It is furthermore an object underlying an embodiment of the present invention to provide a method of handling pot-shaped hollow bodies, in particular transport containers for semiconductor wafers by which the device can be operated.

This object is achieved by the features specified in the present disclosure. Advantageous embodiments of the preferred invention form the subject matter of the present disclosure.

The preferred present invention will be described with reference to hollow bodies in the following since the invention is not restricted to FOUPs or to transport containers for EUV lithography masks.

An embodiment of the invention relates to a device for handling pot-shaped hollow bodies, in particular transport containers for semiconductor wafers or for EUV lithography masks, comprising:a wall that surrounds an inner space;a gripping and moving device arranged in the inner space for moving the hollow body within the inner space; anda wall opening that is formed by the wall, that is closable by a closure body, and through which the inner space is accessible, with the closure bodybeing movably supported in the device by means of a fastening unit; andhaving a reception unit by which the hollow body is releasably connected to the closure body.

The hollow body can be connected to, moved by, and released again from the closure body. The closure body simultaneously serve the closing of the wall opening.

The hollow body is connected to the closure body, with two steps being performed for this purpose. The hollow body is first placed onto the closure body, which can take place manually. The hollow body is subsequently locked, which is carried out in an automated manner.

The closure body is then moved into a position in which the opening is closed, with the hollow body being connected to the closure body such that it can be gripped and subsequently moved in the inner space by the gripping and moving device. The closure body is integrated in the movement routine that the hollow body runs through during the handling, with the hollow body being introduced into and removed from the inner space with the closure body.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the fastening unit is formed as a hinge by which the closure body is rotatably fastened to the wall. The fastening unit can generally define any desired movement of the closure body; a parallelogram guidance can be provided, for example. However, the use of a fastening unit formed as a hinge is associated with a small technical effort. Hinges can in particular cooperate with a drive device in a simple manner. Hinges are moreover characterized by high reliability.

In a further developed embodiment, the closure body can be movable between a first position and a second position, with the closure body closing the wall opening in the first position and in the second position.

The closure body can be of an L shape and can have two limbs that intersect at the pivot point. In the first position, the hollow body is connected to the reception section of the closure body located on the second limb, with the hollow body being located outside the inner space. The wall opening is closed by the first limb. In the second position, the hollow body is arranged within the inner space, with the wall opening being closed by the second limb. Since both the first position and the second position can be selected such that the closure body is easily accessible, the movement routine is kept simple and short. A complicated transfer through the wall opening is omitted. The inner space is also closed on the transition of the closure body from the first position into the second position. An additional step is not required for this.

In a further developed embodiment, the hollow body can:have a first gripping section; anda second gripping section, whereinthe reception section has locking means by which the closure body can cooperate with the hollow body using the first gripping section; andthe gripping and moving device has gripping means by which the gripping and moving device can cooperate with the hollow body using the second gripping section.

In this embodiment, the hollow body has a first gripping section and a second gripping section. It is consequently possible to fasten the hollow body at least at times both to the closure body and to the gripping and moving device. The locking means can, for example, only be released when the gripping means fully engage at the hollow body. On the one hand, the two gripping sections can be arranged such that they are both also easily accessible when the closure body is connected to the first gripping section, for example. On the other hand, it can be ensured that the hollow body is securely connected to at least the gripping and moving device or the closure body, as a result of which an uncontrolled movement of the hollow body is avoided. A placement of the hollow body in the inner space, which could be necessary so that the gripping and moving device can switch from the first gripping section to the second gripping section, is not necessary, whereby time is saved.

In a further developed device, the device can have a further gripping and moving means for supplying the hollow body to the closure body and for removing the hollow body from the closure body. As mentioned further above, the hollow body can be manually placed onto the closure body located in the first position and can be automatically locked and thus connected thereto. The same also applies to the releasing and removal. The supply to and the removal from the closure body can be automated by the further gripping and moving device that is typically arranged outside the inner space and that can, for example, be formed as an overhead transport system (“OHT”). The further transport of the hollow bodies with inserted semiconductor wafers within a clean room or between a plurality of clean rooms can also be taken over by the OHT system. The present device can consequently also be integrated in an OHT system in accordance with this embodiment.

In a further embodiment, the further gripping and moving device can have further gripping means by which the further gripping and moving device can cooperate with the hollow body using the second gripping section. As mentioned, the further gripping and moving device is typically arranged outside the inner space while the gripping and moving device is typically arranged within the inner space. Since the two gripping and moving devices are separated by the wall of the device in this case and the transition of the hollow body into the inner space is taken over by the closure body, the two gripping and moving devices can never simultaneously be in contact with the hollow body. It is possible with the device according to the proposal to this extent to use the second gripping section of the hollow body for two different gripping and moving devices. The design of the hollow body can consequently be kept simple since no third gripping section has to be provided. In addition, the gripping means of the gripping and moving device and the further gripping means of the further gripping and moving device can be of the same design, whereby cost advantages can be achieved.

In a further developed embodiment, in which the hollow body has:a base wall and one or more side walls;an opening disposed opposite the base wall; anda cover by which the opening is closable,
is characterized in that the device has at least one cover handling unit that is releasably connectable to the cover.

As mentioned, a cleaning of the hollow bodies, in particular of the FOUPs, only contributes to the reduction of defective semiconductor wafers to a considerably smaller degree at their outer surfaces in comparison with a cleaning at their inner surfaces. The hollow body has to be opened to clean the inner surface, for which purpose the cover has to be removed from the hollow body, which can take place in an automated manner using the cover handling unit. The device in accordance with the present embodiment consequently also enables a cleaning of the inner surface with the above-mentioned advantages.

In accordance with a further embodimentthe device has at least one handling unit by which the hollow body can be handled and a cover handling unit, whereinthe handling unit has a process space in which the hollow body can be handled;the process space is accessible through a process space opening; andthe cover handling unit is movably supported in the device by means of a further fastening device between an open position in which the cover handling unit releases the process space opening and a closure position in which the cover handling unit closes the process space opening.

As mentioned, the cover is releasably connected to the cover handling unit. Similar to the closure body, the cover handling unit is integrated in the handling of the hollow body, in this case in the handling of the cover of the hollow body. The cover is introduced into the handling unit in that the cover handling unit is moved from the open position into the closure position and vice versa. A complicated introduction into and a removal from the process space is again omitted.

A further embodiment is characterized in that the device has a first handling unit that is formed as a cleaning device for cleaning the hollow body and/or the cover. As mentioned, the cleaning of the hollow bodies plays a decisive role in the reduction of defective semiconductor wafers. In this embodiment, the significance of the cleaning is taken into account. It is worthy of mention at this point that the cover can be cleaned separately from the remaining hollow body. The inner cover surface can in particular also be cleaned. A cleaning fluid is typically used for this purpose.

In a further embodiment, the device can have a second handling unit that is formed as an evacuation device for applying a vacuum to the hollow body and/or at the cover. The application of a vacuum serves to remove residues of the cleaning fluid that remain on the surface of the hollow body and of the cover as a result of the cleaning of the hollow body in the cleaning device. The moisture also diffuses into microscopically small pores of the surface of the hollow body and of the cover due to the capillary effect. This moisture can likewise be removed by the vacuum so that a drying is also made possible on a microscopic level.

It consequently appears sensible to supply the hollow body to the cleaning device first and subsequently to the evacuation device.

An embodiment of the preferred invention relates to a method of handling pot-shaped hollow bodies, in particular transport containers for semiconductor wafers or for EUV lithography masks, using a device in accordance with one of the previous embodiments, said method comprising the following steps:moving the closure body into the first position in which the reception section is arranged outside the inner space;supplying the hollow body to the reception section and activating the reception section to connect the hollow body to the closure body; andmoving the closure body into the second position in which the closure body closes the wall opening.

The technical effects and advantages that can be achieved with the method according to the proposal correspond to those that have been discussed for the present device for handling pot-shaped hollow bodies, in particular transport containers for semiconductor wafers. It must be pointed out in summary that the gripping and moving device hereby has to perform simpler movement routines in comparison with methods known from the prior art and can therefore be of a simpler design. In addition, the movement routines can be performed faster so that the duration of the movement procedure can be reduced.

In a further embodiment in which the hollow body has a first gripping section and a second gripping section, the method comprises the following steps:supplying the hollow body to the closure body by means of a further gripping and moving device that has further gripping means by which the further gripping and moving device is connected to the hollow body using the second gripping section;activating the locking means of the reception section for connecting the hollow body to the closure body using the first gripping section;releasing the further gripping and moving device from the second gripping section;moving the closure body into the closed position in which the closure body closes the wall opening;connecting the hollow body to the gripping and moving device using the second gripping section; andreleasing the hollow body from the closure body by deactivating the reception section.

The supply of the hollow body to and the removal from the closure body can be automated.

In accordance with a further developed embodiment in which the hollow body hasa base wall and one or more side walls;an opening disposed opposite the base wall; anda cover by which the opening is closable,
the method comprises the following steps:supplying the hollow body to the cover handling unit by means of the gripping and moving device;connecting the cover to the cover handling unit; andseparating the cover from the hollow body by means of the cover handling unit and/or the gripping and moving device.

In this embodiment of the method, the hollow body can be opened by removing the cover by means of the cover handling unit so that the hollow body can be handled at its inner hollow body surface. The cover can also be handled.

A further developed embodiment of the method in which:the device comprises at least one handling unit by which the hollow body can be handled, wherein the handling unit cooperates with the cover handling unit; and whereinthe handling unit has a process space in which the hollow body can be handled; andthe process space is accessible through a process space opening; defines the following steps:moving the cover handling unit into a position in which the cover handling unit releases the process space opening;connecting the cover to the cover handling unit and separating the cover from the hollow body by means of the cover handling unit and/or the gripping and moving device; andmoving the cover handling unit into the closed position in which the cover handling unit closes the process space opening.

In this embodiment of the method, the cover handling unit is not only used to separate the cover from the hollow body, but also to introduce the cover into the process space. A complicated introduction of the cover into and a removal from the process space is again omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Different steps of a method according to a proposal for handling pot-shaped hollow bodies10, in particular transport containers for semiconductor wafers, are shown with reference to basic sectional representations inFIGS.1A-1T. A device12in accordance with the preferred invention is likewise shown in principle inFIG.1Aby which the method according to a proposal can be carried out. The hollow bodies10are also called FOUPs.

The device12in accordance with the preferred invention comprises a wall14that surrounds an inner space16. A gripping and moving device or moving device17is provided in the inner space17by which the hollow bodies10to be handled can be moved in the inner space16. In addition, two handling units18, namely a first handling unit181that is formed as a cleaning device20and is shown in detail inFIG.2and a second handling unit182that is formed as an evacuation device22and is shown in more detail inFIG.3, are located in the inner space16.

The device12is furthermore equipped with a further gripping and moving device24by which the hollow bodies10can be moved outside the inner space. The further gripping and moving device24is formed in the manner of an overhead transport system (“OHT”) in which the hollow bodies10are transported in the proximity of the top.

The wall14forms a wall opening26that is closable by a closure body28and through which the inner space16is accessible. The closure body28is movably supported in the device12by means of a fastening unit30. In this case, the fastening unit30is formed as a hinge32by which the closure body28is rotatably fastened to the wall14in the manner of a flap. The closure body28is movable between a first position and a second position.

The closure body28furthermore has a reception section34by which the hollow body10can be releasably fastened to the closure body28. In the embodiment shown, suitably formed locking means36are provided in the reception section34for this purpose.

In the embodiment shown, the closure body28is of L shape and has a first limb33and a second limb35that include an angle of 90° with one another and are respectively connected to the hinge32. The reception section34is arranged on the first limb33that is located outside the inner space16in the first position. The second limb35closes the opening26when the closure body28is in the first position, with the second limb35contacting a seal37that surrounds the opening26.

To move the closure body28into the second position, it is rotated by 90° (seeFIG.1B). In the second position, the first limb33contacts the seal37so that the opening26is closed by the first limb33. The opening26is consequently only opened when the closure body28is moved between the first position and the second position.

The hollow body10is formed substantially in parallelepiped shape and comprises a base wall38and four side walls40, an opening42disposed opposite the base wall38, and a cover44by which the opening42is closable. In addition, the hollow body10is provided with a first gripping section46and a second gripping section48that are each arranged at one of the side walls40. The first gripping section46is configured such that it can cooperate with the locking means36of the reception section34of the closure body28, whereby the hollow body10can be releasably connected to the closure body28. The second gripping section48is T-shaped in cross-section and is therefore also called a “mushroom”.

The gripping and moving device17has gripping means50and the further gripping and moving device24has further gripping means52that have substantially the same design and that can cooperate with the second gripping section48of the hollow body10so that the hollow body10can be gripped.

A method will be described with reference toFIGS.1A to1Tby which the device12can be operated. In this respect, only the components of the device12that directly participate in the method are shown inFIGS.1B to1T, with the representation being simplified in part for reasons of clarity.

The hollow body10is gripped by the further gripping means52of the further gripping and moving device24at the second gripping section48(not explicitly shown) and is transported toward the device12. Once the hollow body10has reached the correct position, it is lowered by the further gripping and moving device24and is placed on the closure body28, that is located in the first position, in particular on the reception section34, so that the hollow body10can be fastened to the closure body28by the locking means36(FIG.1A). The further gripping means52are released and the further gripping and moving device24is removed from the hollow body10(not shown). The closure body28is now moved into the second position, for which purpose it is rotated by approximately 90° by a drive unit that is not shown (FIG.1B). The wall opening26is closed here and the hollow body10is introduced into the inner space16. The hollow body10is subsequently gripped at the second gripping section48by the gripping means50of the gripping and moving device17(FIG.1Cand the locking means36of the closure body28are then released. The hollow body10can now be removed from the closure body28(FIG.1D) and moved in the inner space16with the aid of the gripping and moving device17. It can be seen fromFIG.1Ethat the hollow body10is now moved to a cover handling unit54that is movably supported in the cleaning device20by means of a further fastening device57(seeFIG.2). The operating mode of the cover handling unit54will be looked at more exactly below. The cover handling unit54is releasably connectable to the cover44of the hollow body10. For this purpose, the cover44of the hollow body10is placed on the cover handling unit54and connection means55(seeFIG.2) are activated by which the cover44can be releasably connected to the cover handling unit54. The hollow body10is subsequently removed from the cover handling unit54by the gripping and moving device17, with the cover44remaining at the cover handling unit54(seeFIG.1F). The open hollow body10is then transported by the gripping and moving device17into the cleaning device20(FIG.1G), where the hollow body10is placed onto a support wall62of the cleaning device20on which the hollow body10is fastened by fixing means63(seeFIG.2). The support wall62has a passage opening58that is adapted to the size of the hollow body10. The hollow body10is, as can be seen fromFIG.1H, fastened to the support wall62such that the passage opening58is approximately flush with the side walls40of the hollow body10. The gripping and moving device17is released from the hollow body10and the inner surface of the hollow body10is cleaned by addition of a cleaning fluid, as is indicated by the arrows P inFIG.1H. Once the cleaning has been completed, the hollow body10is again gripped by the gripping and moving device17and is removed from the support wall62(FIG.1I). The hollow body10is now again moved to the cover handling unit54of the cleaning device20(FIG.1J) and the cover44is again connected to the hollow body10(FIG.1K).

The hollow body10is then transported by the gripping and moving device17to the evacuation device22that likewise has a cover handling unit102that has substantially the same design as the cover handling unit54of the cleaning device20. The cover44is in turn connected to the cover handling unit102of the evacuation device22and is released from the hollow body10(FIG.1L). The hollow body10is subsequently moved toward a support wall62of the evacuation device22(FIG.1M) and placed on it (FIG.1N) A vacuum is subsequently built up in the inner space16of the hollow body10by means of a vacuum pump64that is connected to a vacuum connector66of the evacuation device22(FIG.3), which is symbolized by Dp inFIG.1N. The gripping and moving device17is meanwhile separated from the hollow body10.

Once the evacuation procedure has been completed, the gripping and moving device17is again connected to the hollow body10and the hollow body10is transported to the cover handling unit102of the evacuation device22(FIGS.1O and1P). The cover44is connected to the hollow body10and is removed from the cover handling unit54(FIG.1Q). The hollow body10is moved back to the closure body28located in the second position and is there placed onto the reception section34so that the hollow body10is fixedly connected to the closure body28as a consequence of the activation of the locking means36(FIG.1R). The gripping and moving device17is now released from the hollow body10(FIG.1S) and the closure body28is moved into the first position (FIG.1T) in which the hollow body10is gripped by the further gripping and moving device24. The locking means36are released and the hollow body10is removed from the closure body28. A further hollow body10can now be placed onto the reception section34by the further gripping and moving device24and can be handled in the described manner.

InFIG.2, the cleaning device20is shown in detail by which the cleaning step shown inFIG.1Ncan be carried out. The cleaning device20has a housing68that forms a housing opening70that is closable by a covering72removable from the housing68. The already described support wall62is furthermore arranged in the housing68. The cleaning device20forms a process space73that is bounded by the housing68itself and by the covering72. The support wall62forms the already described passage opening58, with the already mentioned fixing means63being arranged radially outside the passage opening58. Two passage bores78are provided in the support wall62radially outside the fixing means63in the embodiment shown.

The cleaning device20has a first cleaning head80that projects over the passage opening58. The cleaning device20moreover comprises a second cleaning head82that has a substantially U shape. The second cleaning head82is rotatable about a second rotational axis D2, with the drive device used for this purpose not being shown.

The housing68further forms a process space opening84through which the process space73is accessible. The process space opening84is connectable to the already mentioned cover handling unit54that is rotatably fastened at the housing68by a further fastening device57about a first rotational axis D1. The cover handling unit54can be moved by a drive unit, not shown, between an open position in which the cover handling unit54releases the process space opening84and a closure position in which the cover handling unit54closes the process space opening84. The cover handling unit54is in the closure position inFIG.2.

The cleaning device20is additionally equipped with a further first cleaning head86that is arranged in the vicinity of the cover handling unit54when it is in the closure position.

The cleaning device20furthermore comprises a fluid conducting unit88by which a first cleaning fluid can be conducted to the first cleaning head80and to the further first cleaning head86and a second cleaning fluid can be conducted to the second cleaning head82in a manner not shown in any more detail. The fluid conducting unit88furthermore comprises a first drainage channel90by which the first cleaning fluid dispensed by the first cleaning head80and by the further first cleaning head86can be drained from the process space73again.

The fluid conducting unit88furthermore has a second drainage channel92that is in fluid communication with the two passage bores78. The first cleaning fluid and the second cleaning fluid can consequently be conducted separately in the cleaning device20.

The cover handling unit54has already been mentioned with respect toFIGS.1E and1F. The operating mode of the cover handling unit54will be described more exactly in the following with reference toFIG.2. The cover44of the hollow body10is placed onto the cover handling unit54when it is in the open position. The cover handling unit54comprises connection means55that are now activated so that the cover44is fastened to the cover handling unit54. The hollow body10is removed from the cover44and is placed on the support wall62by the gripping and moving device17, with the covering72being arranged such that it releases the housing opening72and consequently access to the process space73. The gripping and moving device17is subsequently separated from the hollow body10.

The cover handling unit54is rotated about the first rotational axis D1and the process space opening84is closed. The covering72is also arranged as is shown inFIG.2to close the process space73. The cleaning fluid is now applied to the inner hollow body surface by the first cleaning head80, to the inner cover surface by the further first cleaning head86, and onto the outer hollow body surface by the second cleaning head82. For this purpose, the first cleaning head80, the further first cleaning head86, and the second cleaning head82each have cleaning nozzles96.

A drying gas is subsequently applied by drying nozzles98of the first cleaning head of the further first cleaning head86, and of the second cleaning head82to the inner hollow body surface, to the inner cover surface, and to the outer hollow body surface to remove the cleaning fluid. In addition, the first cleaning head80, the further first cleaning head86, and the second cleaning head82have infrared diodes100by which residues of the cleaning fluid that are located on the inner hollow body surface, the inner cover surface, and the outer hollow body surface can be heated and evaporated.

The covering72is subsequently removed, the hollow body10is connected to the gripping and moving device17, and the cover handling device54is moved into the open position. The hollow body10is raised from the support wall62by means of the gripping and moving device17and is moved onto the cover handling unit54. The connection means55are deactivated. The cover44is now again connected to the hollow body10and is transported by the gripping and moving device17to the evacuation device22shown in more detail inFIG.3.

The evacuation device22is substantially designed like the cleaning device20, but it does not have any fluid conducting unit or any cleaning heads. The evacuation device22rather has the already mentioned vacuum connector66to which the likewise mentioned vacuum pump64can be connected so that a vacuum can be applied in the process space73.

The evacuation device22is equipped with a cover handling unit102that has substantially the same design as the cover handling unit54. The supply of the hollow body10to the evacuation device22takes place in substantially the same manner as has been described for the cleaning device20. The covering72is connected as shown to the housing inFIG.3and the cover handling unit54is in the closure position so that the process spade73is closed. The vacuum pump64is now activated and a vacuum is applied in the process space73. Residues of the cleaning fluid that are on the inner hollow body surface, the inner cover surface, and the outer hollow body surface are removed.

On completion of the evacuation procedure, the covering72is removed so that access to the process space73is again possible. The gripping and moving device17is connected to the hollow body10and the cover handling unit54is moved into the open position where the cover44can be connected to the hollow body10in the described manner. The hollow body10is now completely cleaned and can be transported onward as shown inFIGS.1R to1T.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST