Patent ID: 7703823

Claim:
A wafer holding mechanism comprising: a first plate having at least one spacer secured thereto, the at least one spacer extending away from the first plate and having at least one lip extending radially inwardly from a distal end thereof; a second plate having at least one finger coupled thereto, the second plate being generally in planar parallel relationship with the first plate and positioned generally between the at least one lip of the spacer and the first plate, the distance between the at least one lip and the first plate being such as to permit the second plate to move relative to the first plate, the at least one finger being positioned on the second plate such that when the second plate is in an open position with respect to the first plate, the at least one finger will be positioned away from the at least one lip, and when the second plate is in a closed position with respect to the first plate, the at least one finger and the at least one lip will cooperatively grip a predetermined portion of a wafer therebetween.