Abstract:
An apparatus and a method serve for cleaning articles used in the production of semiconductors, such as wafers, containers for transporting wafers (known as FOUPs), LCD substrates and photomasks. The articles are cleaned in a treatment chamber by means of a liquid and subsequently dried. A drying gas, such as air, is circulated within the treatment chamber and a condensation dryer is provided for extracting moisture from the gas.

Description:
CROSSREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of co-pending international patent application PCT/EP2004/003764 filed on Apr. 8, 2004 and published in German language as WO 2005/001888 A2, which claims priority from national German patent applications DE 103 17 275.0 filed on Apr. 11, 2003 and DE 103 47 464.1 filed on Oct. 2, 2003. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cleaning articles used in the production of semiconductors, and in particular to a method and an apparatus for cleaning semiconductor wafers, containers for transporting semiconductor wafers (Known as FOUPs), LCD substrates and photomasks. 
     In the semiconductor industry, various types of articles which are used in the production process need to be cleaned. These articles include auxiliaries, such as photomasks or containers for accommodating semiconductor products, but also semiconductor products themselves, such as wafers and LCD substrates. Therefore, when reference is made in the present application to “articles” that are to be cleaned, this is to be understood as meaning any of these articles. 
     Since these articles are typically cleaned by means of a liquid, they need to be dried at the end of the cleaning process. It is of great importance that the articles are completely cleaned during the cleaning step and that they are not contaminated again with foreign particles during the drying step. For the drying step, various procedures are known. 
     According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,113, drying of the articles is achieved by means of a stream of hot air. For this purpose, ambient air is sucked in, heated up, filtered and directed into the treatment chamber. This procedure has the disadvantage that, as a result of the external heating of the drying air, only a limited efficiency can be achieved. Furthermore, the supply of outside air always bears the risk that foreign particles are introduced into the treatment chamber although the air is filtered. This is because a compromise has to be made between the effectiveness of the filter on the one hand and the amount of air that can be passed through on the other hand. 
     In the case of other known apparatuses, which have been sold by the assignee under the type names  300  and  310 , outside air is directed into the treatment chamber via a filter without heating-up. Instead, there are arranged infrared radiators inside the treatment chamber. Again, however, outside air is directed into the treatment chamber so that here too the problems mentioned above arise. 
     EP 0 454 873 A1 discloses a method for drying electronic components in which the components are cleaned in a chamber by means of water vapor. The water vapor condenses on a condenser and flows away as condensate via a line. Only subsequently the components are dried, namely by means of a drying gas, which is supplied from the outside. This method consequently has the same disadvantages as mentioned above, because here too foreign particles are unavoidably carried in by the drying gas. 
     DE 42 08 665 A1 discloses a method for drying machine parts which are contaminated with processing residues containing oil or grease. The machine parts are cleaned in a cleaning chamber by spraying with a cleaning liquid. For drying the machine parts, air is blown into the cleaning chamber and recirculated by a system of pipes to a blower. In the line between the blower and the cleaning chamber there is a steam/air heat exchanger. When cleaning machine parts, it does not cause any problems if there are foreign particles in the drying air supplied from the outside. For the purposes of the present invention, however, this is unacceptable for the reasons already mentioned above. In addition, an external drying air circuit with a separate condenser has a considerable space requirement. 
     A further method for cleaning heavy machine parts and an associated apparatus are described in WO 95/29276. In the case of this known method, a cleaning chamber of twice the normal height is provided. When cleaning, a container with machine parts is initially subjected to a cleaning liquid in a lower position in the chamber. After that, the container is raised into an upper position in the chamber and blasted with drying air. Here too, the drying air is circulated in a circuit in which a condenser is arranged. The disadvantages are therefore the same as described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Against this background, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method for cleaning articles used in the semiconductor production process. In particular, it is an object to provide for an efficient drying of these articles with a reduced risk of contamination. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by an apparatus for cleaning articles used in the production of semiconductors, having a treatment chamber in which the articles are cleaned by means of a liquid and subsequently dried, having an arrangement for moving a gas within the treatment chamber when it is closed, and having a condensation dryer connected to the treatment chamber, wherein the arrangement is adapted to circulate the gas within the closed treatment chamber to the condensation dryer. 
     According to another aspect, this object is achieved by a method for cleaning articles used in the production of semiconductors, wherein the articles are cleaned in a treatment chamber by means of a liquid and subsequently dried, a gas being circulated within the treatment chamber, with the treatment chamber being closed, and the gas being dried by means of a condensation dryer. 
     In contrast to the approaches known in the art, the entire drying operation takes place within the closed treatment chamber. This completely avoids the introduction of foreign particles, and with it contamination of the articles to be dried. As regards working in a closed treatment chamber, “closed” is to be understood as meaning that no gases are directed into the treatment chamber from the outside or directed out of it, once the cleaning process has started. Rather, the treatment chamber operates to this extent as a completely closed system. Furthermore, a condensation dryer which is preferably arranged in the treatment chamber itself, i.e. as an integral part of the treatment chamber, is provided for this purpose. The gas circulated in the treatment chamber is consequently dried in the treatment chamber itself, because the moisture constituents contained in the gas are condensed within the treatment chamber. Consequently, the moisture is extracted from the gas circulated in the treatment chamber, so that the articles are effectively dried. 
     In a preferred development of the apparatus, a heat exchanger is arranged near the treatment chamber and the condensation dryer is connected to the heat exchanger via a closed circuit. 
     This allows to operate the apparatus autonomously overall. It is not dependent on the supply and removal of external coolants. 
     According to another refinement, the condensation dryer may also be connected to an external coolant source via a supply line connection. 
     By contrast with the aforementioned alternative, this has the advantage that the apparatus-related expenditure is minimal, but on the other hand an external supply of coolant is required. Depending on the action time and costs of the coolant to be supplied (for example cooling water), one or the other variant will therefore be more advantageous in an individual case. 
     In the case of further exemplary embodiments of the invention, the condensation dryer has at least one condenser plate. 
     This measure has the advantage that the circulated air, laden with moisture, within the treatment chamber can flow directly along a relatively large surface area of the condenser plate, so that effective condensation, and with it drying, is possible. 
     It is preferred in this respect if a number of condenser plates are used, connected in a parallel arrangement to a supply line and, respectively, to a discharge line for a coolant. 
     This measure has the advantage that on the one hand a larger condensation area is available, on the other hand, as a result of the parallel connection, all the condenser plates are evenly cooled. 
     In this connection, furthermore, a good effect is achieved by the articles in the treatment chamber being arranged on a rotor which is rotatable about an axis, and the at least one condenser plate being arranged such that it is inclined by a predetermined angle in relation to a radial plane of the axis. 
     This measure has the advantage that a helical motion is imparted to the gas circulated in the treatment chamber, so that a defined circulation is obtained. Depending on the spatial arrangement of the condenser plates, this may lead to a laminar flow over the articles to be dried, for example whenever the obliquely arranged condenser plates are located in the band region of the treatment chamber. 
     In the case of a preferred refinement of this variant, guiding elements inclined in relation to the radial plane may be additionally arranged on an inner wall of the treatment chamber. 
     This measure has the advantage that the entire inner wall of the treatment chamber may be formed in the manner of a thread by the inclined condenser plates and the inclined guiding elements. This brings about a helical gas flow in the region of the chamber, which is completed by means of a counter-flow directed axially in the center of the chamber. 
     In the case of embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention, spray nozzles for a cleaning or rinsing liquid are arranged on an inner wall of the treatment chamber. In the case of a treatment chamber that is of an essentially cuboidal form, the spray nozzles are preferably arranged in the region of corners of the treatment chamber. 
     Even more preferred, the articles in the treatment chamber are arranged on a rotor which is rotatable about a rotation axis and the axis runs essentially at the center of the treatment chamber. The spray nozzles are preferably directed toward the axis. 
     In the case of a refinement of the last-mentioned variant of the invention, at least one further spray nozzle is provided, which nozzle is kept in a retracted position outside the rotor when the rotor is rotating and can be moved in the radial direction into an advanced position, in the region of the articles held in the rotor, when the rotor is at a standstill. 
     This measure has the advantage that perfect cleaning is possible even in the case of articles of very large volume. This applies for example in the case of so-called FOUPs as are used in semiconductor fabrication for transporting a large number of wafers. 
     In the case of further embodiments of the invention, infrared radiators for drying the articles are provided in the treatment chamber. Alternatively or in addition to one another, one or more infrared radiators may be arranged at the center of the treatment chamber or on an inner wall of the treatment chamber. It is preferred, however, if the infrared radiators are not directed at the condensation dryer. 
     This measure has the advantage of avoiding heating-up of the condensation dryer, which would lead to a reduction of its efficiency. 
     In the case of further preferred embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention, the treatment space is essentially rectangular in horizontal section and is accessible via two doors, arranged in opposite side walls. 
     This measure has the advantage known per se that the articles can be loaded from one side of the apparatus and unloaded from the other side of the apparatus. 
     As an alternative to this, however, it is also possible for the treatment space to be essentially rectangular in horizontal section and accessible only via one door, arranged in one side wall. 
     This measure has the advantage that low apparatus-related expenditure is required for the apparatus. 
     In the case of a further embodiment of the invention, the articles in the treatment chamber are arranged on a rotor which is rotatable about an axis, the first means circulate the gas in the closed treatment chamber, and, furthermore, a condensation dryer for the gas and a cooler for cooling the condensation dryer are provided in the treatment chamber. 
     In the case of a corresponding variant of the method according to the invention, in which the articles in the treatment chamber are likewise arranged on a rotor which is rotatable about an axis, the treatment chamber is closed and the gas is circulated within the closed treatment chamber and dried by means of condensation, the condensation dryer being cooled at least before the beginning of the drying. 
     These measures have the advantage that the condensation dryer can remain switched off as long as the articles are being cleaned with hot liquids. This is so because, at the latest when they are thrown by centrifugal force from the articles rotated on the rotor, these hot liquids reach the condensation dryer and heat the heat exchanger medium located in it. If the condensation dryer were to continue running during this phase of the cleaning process, energy would be unnecessarily expended for cooling the heat exchanger medium. This would also mean that the condensation dryer has to be connected to a cooling unit with a very high cooling output. 
     In this connection, it should be mentioned that the heating output of the treatment chamber is typically of the order of 18 kW, while it would be desirable to provide the cooling unit that is assigned to the condensation dryer with an output of only approximately one tenth of this. 
     If a cooler for cooling the condensation dryer is provided, the temperature of the condensation dryer can be influenced in an active or passive way. In any event, the effect that, at the beginning of the drying operation, the condensation dryer is at a temperature which lies far below the temperature of the hot cleaning liquid is achieved according to the invention. Only in this way is it ensured that the condensation drying can commence to its full extent immediately, or at least within a very short time. 
     As already mentioned, the cooling of the condensation dryer can be brought about both in a passive way and in an active way. 
     In the case of the preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, this passive cooling is achieved by a spray-protection wall arranged between the rotor and the condensation dryer. 
     This measure has the advantage that the heating-up of the condensation dryer by the thrown-off hot cooling liquid is prevented in the first place, because the thrown-off drops of the hot cleaning liquid do not come into contact with the condensation dryer in the first place because of the spray-protection wall arranged in between. As a result of this, the condensation dryer does not heat up, or only inappreciably, and is therefore available immediately at the beginning of the drying operation, or at least within a very short time, at its low operating temperature, in which a precipitation of the circulating moisture on the elements of the condensation dryer is brought about. 
     In the case of a preferred refinement of this exemplary embodiment, the spray-protection wall has fins, which are arranged in the manner of a Venetian blind. 
     This measure has the advantage that the air movement within the treatment chamber is not disturbed, or only minimally, by the spray-protection wall, but on the other hand the drops of the hot cleaning liquid that are thrown off from the rotating articles are intercepted by the fins of the Venetian-blind-like spray-protection wall. 
     In the case of a refinement of this variant of the invention, the condensation dryer has a plurality of condenser plates which are inclined by a predetermined angle in relation to the radial plane of an axis of rotation of the rotor, and the fins are arranged parallel to the condenser plates. 
     This measure firstly has the advantage that a helical motion is imparted to the gas or the air circulated in the treatment chamber, so that a defined circulation is obtained. Depending on the spatial arrangement of the condenser plates, this may lead to a laminar flow over the articles to be dried, for example whenever the obliquely arranged condenser plates are located in the edge region of the treatment chamber. The alignment of the fins parallel to the oblique arrangement of the condenser plates has in this case the advantage that they are also optimally protected in the oblique position mentioned. 
     In another variant, the condensation dryer is actively cooled. This preferably takes place by the cooler being formed as cooling spray nozzles directed at the condensation dryer. 
     This measure has the advantage that the cooling output of the cooling units, which for the reasons mentioned above is to be kept relatively low, does not have to be used for cooling the condensation dryer. Rather, the cold water that is installed anyway in the treatment chamber is used for the purpose of bringing about direct cooling of the condensation dryer via the cooling spray nozzles mentioned. 
     In the case of a second variant of active cooling of the condensation dryer, spray nozzles directed at the articles are arranged on an inner wall of the treatment chamber, and a controller is provided which firstly admits a cooling liquid to the spray nozzles and then sets the rotor in rotation. 
     This measure has the advantage that the spray nozzles that are expediently present in any case for the cleaning operation and are directed at the articles are also used for the direct cooling of the condensation dryer. A separate phase of the cleaning process, in which the articles are once again sprayed off with cold water after completed cleaning, is provided for this purpose. In this phase, the aforementioned downside is made an upside, in that cold water is applied to the articles and thrown off by centrifugal force during rotation, and in this way reaches the condensation dryer. The cooling is therefore brought about in precisely the same way as the heating-up was previously by the throwing-off of the hot cleaning liquid. 
     As already mentioned above, the apparatus and the method according to the invention can be used for cleaning different articles. To be mentioned with preference in this respect are containers for semiconductor products or semiconductor products themselves. Semiconductor products are in this case preferably wafers, LCD substrates or photomasks, without the invention being restricted to these specific semiconductor products. 
     It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further advantages emerge from the description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the description which follows and are represented in the drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, in a side view, namely a sectional representation along the line I-I of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 2  shows the apparatus according to  FIG. 1  in a side view turned 90°, likewise in section, along the line II-II of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a plan view of the apparatus according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , likewise in section, along the line III-III of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a representation similar to  FIG. 3 , but for a second exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a detail from  FIG. 1  on a somewhat enlarged scale, but for a variant of a device according to the invention of a spray-protection wall; 
         FIG. 6  shows an extremely schematized lateral sectional representation of a first examplary embodiment of a Venetian blind-like spray-protection wall; 
         FIG. 7  shows a representation similar to  FIG. 6 , for a further variant of a Venetian-blind-like spray-protection wall; and 
         FIG. 8  shows a view of the spray-protection wall from  FIG. 7  from the side, the illustration according to  FIG. 7  being a sectional representation along the line VII-VII of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In  FIGS. 1 to 3 , reference numeral  10  designates a cleaning apparatus as a whole, for articles such as those used in the semiconductor industry for producing semiconductors. 
     The cleaning apparatus  10  has a cuboidal housing  12 , which is arranged on a base  16  by means of feet  14 . The housing  12  extends in the vertical direction along an axis  17 . It has a front side wall  18 , a rear side wall  20 , a right-hand side wall  22  and a left-hand side wall  24 . On the inside, the housing  12  is subdivided by an upper intermediate wall  26  and a lower intermediate wall  28 . This creates an upper housing part  30 , a middle housing part  32  and a lower housing part  34 . It goes without saying that the representation in the figures is to be understood in this respect as only schematic. The details of the housing  12 , connecting means and the like are not represented for the sake of overall clarity. 
     In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the housing  12  is provided with two doors, that is with a right-hand door  36  in the right-hand side wall  22  and an opposite, left-hand door  38  in the left-hand side wall  24 . It is indicated by arrows  37  and  39  that, with the doors open, as indicated by  36 ′ and  38 ′ for the state of partial opening, loading of the cleaning apparatus  10  by the throughput method is possible. For this purpose, for example, the articles that are to be cleaned are supplied in the direction of the arrow  37  through the open door  36  and the cleaned articles are removed in the direction of the arrow  39  through the open door  38 . 
     The middle housing part  32  surrounds the treatment chamber  40 . In the treatment chamber  40  there is a rotor  42 , which can be driven by means of a shaft  44 . The shaft  44  extends along the vertical axis  17 . The rotor  42  has an upper holder  46  and a lower holder  48 , between which the articles to be cleaned are held by means of suitable holding means. 
     In the exemplary embodiment represented, three levels of containers  50  are held between the holders  46  and  48 . Provided on each level are a total of four containers  50 , which are arranged respectively offset by 90° around the shaft  44 . The containers  50  are containers such as those that are used for handling and transporting wafers or other semiconductor products. 
     As indicated by an arrow  52 , the rotor  42  can be set in rotation. For this purpose, it is connected via a drive shaft  54  to a motor  56 , which is located in a drive space  58  in the upper housing part  30 . The direction of rotation of the motor  56  is preferably reversible. 
     As can be easily seen from  FIG. 3 , the housing  12  is essentially rectangular or cuboidal, at least in the region of the treatment chamber  40 . In the corners  61   a ,  61   b ,  61   c ,  61   d  of the treatment chamber  40 , in the exemplary embodiment represented in the three corners  61   a ,  61   b  and  61   c , there are spray nozzles  60   a ,  60   b  and  60   c . The spray nozzles  60   a  to  60   c  are directed toward the center of the treatment chamber  40 , that is toward axis  17  or toward the shaft  44 . The supply lines and supply devices of the spray nozzles  60   a  to  60   c  are known per se and are not represented for the sake of overall clarity. 
     Also located within the treatment chamber  40  are infrared radiators  62   a ,  62   b ,  62   c . The infrared radiator  62   a  is in this case arranged in the region of the shaft  44 , while the infrared radiators  62   b  and  62   c  are located on the front side wall  18 . The infrared radiators  62   a  to  62   c  are likewise known per se and are therefore not represented in further detail. 
     According to the invention, a condensation dryer  64  is provided in the treatment chamber  40 , namely in the region of the rear side wall  20 . The condensation dryer  64  preferably comprises a number of condenser plates, in the exemplary embodiment represented by a total of nine condenser plates  66   a ,  66   b ,  66   c ,  66   d ,  66   e ,  66   f ,  66   g ,  66   h  and  66   i . The condenser plates  66   a  to  66   i  are arranged such that they are inclined at a predetermined angle α with respect to a radial plane in relation to the axis  17 , as can be easily seen from  FIG. 2 . The angle α lies for example between 10° and 30°, preferably at 20°. 
     The condenser plates  66   a  to  66   i  are connected on one side, in the exemplary embodiment represented on the respectively lower side, to a common supply line  68 , and on their opposite side to a common discharge line  70 , so that they are fluidically connected in parallel. 
     According to a first variant, the supply line  68  and the discharge line  70  are connected in a closed circuit to a heat exchanger  72 . According to a second variant, the supply line  68  and the discharge line  70  are respectively connected to an external supply line connection  74  and a discharge line connection  76 , so that the coolant can be externally supplied and removed. 
     The mode of operation of the cleaning apparatus  10  is as follows: 
     At the beginning of the cleaning method, the empty rotor  42  is loaded via the right-hand door  36 . For this purpose, the rotor  42  is expediently rotated in four steps, by 90° each time, so that in each case three containers  30  can be loaded one above the other. This may take place manually or by means of a corresponding handling device, until finally all three levels are each loaded with four containers. It goes without saying in this respect that articles other than containers  50  can of course also be loaded, or that mixed loading may also be envisaged, in which for example the two lower levels are loaded with containers and the upper level is loaded with flat articles. 
     After completion of the loading operation, the right-hand door  36  is closed. The rotor  42  is then set in rotation by switching on the motor  56 . At the same time, a cleaning liquid is directed at the articles that are to be cleaned, for example the containers  50 , via the spray nozzles  60   a  to  60   c . This cleaning operation may be followed by a rinsing operation, in which a rinsing liquid is sprayed on via the spray nozzles  60   a  to  60   c . It goes without saying that different spray nozzles may also be used for supplying the cleaning liquid and a rinsing liquid. 
     In the case of a practical exemplary embodiment, the cleaning apparatus  10  has a cuboidal treatment chamber  40  with an edge length of 125 cm. The cleaning/rinsing is performed in two steps lasting for example 20 and 40 seconds, cleaned water at a temperature of 50° being used and the rotor  42  being rotated at 20 rpm. 
     The cleaning and possibly rinsing operation explained above is only followed by the drying operation of particular interest in the present context. 
     In order to dry the containers  50  effectively in the treatment chamber  40 , the rotor  42  is firstly set in rapid rotation, for example 200 rpm, during two intervals lasting 30 seconds in each case. This rapid rotation of the rotor  42  brings about the effect that the cleaning or rinsing liquid located on the containers  50  is partly thrown off by centrifugal force. 
     Then a number of intervals during which the rotor  42  is rotated follow at a reduced rotational speed of between 30 and 60 rpm. This takes place during successive intervals, lasting for example sixty seconds, the direction of rotation of the rotor  42  being reversed between the individual intervals. Altogether, for example, twelve such intervals may be provided, it also being possible for the rotational speed of the rotor  42  to be raised or lowered in the meantime, depending on requirements. During these intervals, the infrared radiators  62   a ,  62   b  and  62   c  are switched on. These are preferably aligned in such a way that they do not radiate onto the condensation dryer  64 , and consequently do not heat it up. The infrared radiation brings about a heating-up of the containers  50 , which are thereby effectively dried. 
     The temperature in the treatment chamber  40  is preferably kept at a constant temperature, for example at 55° C., during the entire cleaning and drying operation. The overall duration of the operation is preferably around ten to twelve minutes. 
     During the drying operation, the rotation of the rotor  42  brings about the effect that the gas, for example the air, within the closed treatment chamber  40  is circulated. The oblique position of the condenser plates  66   a  to  66   i  (cf.  FIG. 2 ) has the effect that a helical motion component is imparted to the gas flow in the region of the rear side wall  20 . This is indicated in  FIG. 2  by arrows  80 . This helical motion of the gas in the wall region leads to a radially directed flow in the region of the base and top, as indicated by arrows  82  in  FIG. 1 . The flow is then completed by an axial flow in the region of the shaft  44 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1  by an arrow  84 . 
     A reversal of the direction of rotation of the rotor  42  also has the result in this case of a reversal of the direction of flow (arrows  80 ,  82  and  84 ). The reversal of the direction of rotation of the rotor  42  also brings about the effect in particular that, during the momentary standstill of the rotor  42 , as the movement passes through zero, those fractions of the liquid that are located in corners, blind holes or the like of the containers  50  can run out under the influence of gravity, in order then to be dried off in the subsequent drying interval. 
     In  FIG. 1 , it is also indicated by  86  that an inner wall  85  of the front side wall  18  is provided with guiding elements  86 , in order to assist the helical directing of the gas within the treatment chamber  40 . It goes without saying that such guiding elements  86  may also be provided on the other inner walls of the treatment chamber  40 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a further exemplary embodiment of the invention with a cleaning apparatus  90  and a treatment chamber  91 , which is rectangular in plan view. Here too, a rotor  92  for containers  94  is provided in the treatment chamber  91 , and similarly a condensation dryer  95 . To this extent, this embodiment coincides with the exemplary embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
     What is special about the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 4  is as follows: 
     On the one hand, the cleaning apparatus  90  is provided with a further spray nozzle  96 . In the position depicted by solid lines in  FIG. 4 , this spray nozzle  96  is located in a retracted position outside the path of movement of the rotor  92 , so that the latter can rotate undisturbed by the spray nozzle  96 . 
     In order then also to be able to clean inner sides  98  of the containers  94  effectively, the rotor  92  can be stopped, during or at the end of the cleaning operation, in a rotational position in which a container  94  or a number of containers  94  arranged one above the other is/are located directly in front of the spray nozzle  96  or a number of spray nozzles  96  arranged one above the other. The spray nozzle  96  then advances into the advanced position, depicted by dash-dotted lines in  FIG. 4 , in order to spray out the inner side  98  of the container  94  with the rotor  92  at a standstill. The spray nozzle  96  then retracts again, the rotor  92  rotates by 90° and the spray nozzle  96  advances again, in order to spray out the next container  94  of the same level on its inner side, and so on. 
     In this way, the containers  94  are therefore cleaned, and possibly rinsed, extremely effectively not only on the outside but also on the inside. 
     The second special feature of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 4  is that only one door  100  is provided in a side wall. A double-headed arrow  102  symbolizes in  FIG. 4  that in this case both the loading and the unloading of the containers  94  takes place through the same door  100  in its open state  100 ′. 
       FIG. 5  shows an enlarged detail from the representation according to  FIG. 1 , but in a modified representation to explain exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
     As can be easily seen from  FIG. 5 , a spray-protection wall  104  is provided between the rotor  42  and the condensation dryer  64 . This spray-protection wall  104  may be formed for example as a continuous sheet-metal plate. 
     Once the containers  50  have been sprayed with hot cleaning liquid during a cleaning operation, they are completely wetted with this hot cleaning liquid. If the rotor  42  then rotates at high speed, drops  106  are thrown off from the containers  50  by the effect of centrifugal force, namely radially outward, where they meet the spray-protection wall  104 . The drops  108  arriving there run down on the spray-protection wall  104  and are collected in the bottom region of the treatment chamber and disposed of. 
     This measure has the following purpose: If the spray-protection wall  104  is not present, the drops  106  fly unhindered onto the condensation dryer  64  and heat up its fins. The condensation dryer  64  would therefore either have to be constantly cooled or at least firstly cooled down at the end of the cleaning operation before it again reaches the low operating temperature required for the condensation drying. 
     This direct heating of the condensation dryer  64  is passively prevented according to the invention by the provision of the spray-protection wall  104 , because the hot drops  106  do not reach the condensation dryer  64 . 
     In the case of an alternative or additional procedure, the condensation dryer  64  may also be cooled directly. This takes place for example by means of cooling spray nozzles, only one of which is depicted in  FIG. 5  by solid lines at  110 . It goes without saying that it is also possible for a number of such cooling spray nozzles  110 , in particular in each case one or two, to be provided for each fin of the condensation dryer  64 . 
     The cooling spray nozzles  110  can be provided irrespective of whether or not a spray-protection wall  104  is provided. The cooling spray nozzles  110  are switched on when the cleaning operation is completed and bring about direct cooling of the fins of the condensation dryer  64  by heat removal. 
     A corresponding effect can be achieved in the case of a further variant of the invention by working without a spray-protection wall  104 . After completion of the cleaning operation, the containers  50  are sprayed with a cold liquid, which is thrown off by rotation of the rotor  42  in precisely the same way as described further above for the case of a hot cleaning liquid. In this case, the condensation dryer  64  is subjected to thrown-off cold drops of the cleaning liquid and likewise actively cooled in this way. 
     If a spray-protection wall  104  is provided, it is of course intended not to hinder, or to hinder as little as possible, the desired flow of the gas and of the air in the treatment chamber, which is indicated in an arrow  82 . 
     For this reason, it is particularly preferred within the scope of the present invention if the spray-protection wall  104  is formed like a Venetian blind, as represented in two variants in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a first variant of a spray-protection wall  104 ′ with obliquely positioned individual fins  112 . 
       FIG. 7  shows another variant of a spray-protection wall  104 ″, in which fin-like elements  116  are punched out from a continuous metal sheet  114 , which is also clearly represented in  FIG. 8 , and are bent away, which makes easier production and assembly possible, as compared with the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 6 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , it can additionally be seen that the fin-like elements  116  are arranged such that they are inclined in relation to a radial plane of the rotor  42 , to be specific by the same angle α as the fins of the condensation dryer  64  (cf. in this respect  FIG. 2  with associated description). 
     It goes without saying that the invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments set out above.