Patent ID: 7419346

Claim:
A system for transporting a workpiece, comprising: a first process tool having a plate mounted to a front end of said first process tool, a load port assembly and a port door, said plate having a port door aperture and a workpiece transfer opening, said port door for moving between a open position and a closed position; a second process tool having a plate mounted to a front end of said second process tool, a load port assembly and a port door, said plate having an port door aperture and a workpiece transfer opening, said port door for moving between a open position and a closed position; a workpiece transfer tunnel providing an enclosed connection between said workpiece transfer opening of said first process tool and said workpiece transfer opening of said second process tool; and a workpiece transfer apparatus for receiving a workpiece from the interior of said first process tool through said workpiece transfer opening and transporting the workpiece within said workpiece transfer tunnel directly to said workpiece transfer opening of said second process tool, wherein said workpiece is transported in a horizontal orientation; wherein multiple workpieces are transported in a stacked horizontal orientation and wherein each of the multiple workpieces are supported on a bottom peripheral edge.