Patent ID: 6939403

Claim:
A chemical processing station for processing objects comprising: a plurality of processing modules arranged in a horizontal manner one after the other, wherein each processing module comprises: a plurality of chemical processing chambers arranged in a predetermined sequence, each chemical processing chamber having: a rotatable object holder located inside said each chemical processing chamber and capable of holding and rotating said objects; an inlet/outlet opening in said each chemical processing chamber for loading/unloading said objects into and from said each chemical processing chamber; at least one inlet port for the supply of at least one processing fluid into said each chemical processing chamber; and at least one outlet port for discharging said at least one processing fluid from said each chemical processing chamber; local chemical supply unit containing at least one storage tank and having: a tank outlet port connected to said at least one inlet port of said each chemical processing chamber; and a tank inlet port connected to said at least one outlet port of said each chemical processing chamber; at least one fluid pump for the supply of said at least one processing fluid from said at least one storage tank to said each chemical processing chamber; and a local piping distribution system for transporting said at least one processing fluid between said at least one storage tank and said each chemical processing chamber; a plurality object storage units containing a plurality of said objects arranged parallel to said processing modules; an object handling unit located between said the plurality of processing modules and said plurality of object storage units, wherein the object handling unit is provided with means for gripping said objects and for transferring said objects between said inlet/outlet opening of said each chemical processing chamber; and a main chemical management unit connected to said local chemical supply unit through pipelines, said chemical processing station occupying a production floor space.