Patent ID: 8565919

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a front-end module that couples with a storage device that stores objects for processing, the front-end module comprising: a single robot; a transfer station; and a plurality of end effectors; wherein the single robot is configured to switch between at least two of the plurality of end effectors such that the single robot is configured to disengage a first end effector from the single robot and engage a second end effector attaching the second end effector to the single robot, wherein the single robot is configured to utilize each of the first end effector and second end effector while engaged with the single robot such that the first end effector and second end effector grasp the objects during transport; and a processing module coupled with the front-end module such that the single robot delivers objects from the storage device to the processing module, the processing module comprising: a rotating table; and a spindle with a carrier configured to retrieve the delivered object and process the object on the rotating table; wherein the single robot comprises a tool changer configured to disengage from the first end effector and engage the second end effector when switching between the first end effectors and the second end effector of the plurality of end effectors, where first end effector comprises a dry end effector such that the single robot is configured to engage the dry end effector when handling the objects for processing when the objects for processing are dry; and wherein the second end effector comprises a wet end effector such that the single robot is configured to engage the wet end effector when handling the objects for processing when the objects for processing are wet.