Patent ID: 8740537

Claim:
A device for transporting a substrate ( 5 ) in an XY-plane between working areas ( 2 , 3 , 22 ) in a chamber ( 1 ) comprising: a) transport means ( 4 ) being movable in the direction of the XY-plane between the working areas ( 2 , 3 , 22 ), b) at least one sealing frame ( 6 ) being held in the transport means ( 4 ) in a manner deflectable in a Z-direction perpendicular with respect to the XY-plane, wherein the sealing frame ( 6 ) has a first and a second sealing surface ( 10 , 11 ) opposing one another in Z-direction for sealing a space of a working area ( 2 , 3 , 22 ) comprising a working station ( 15 , 18 , 30 ), and wherein the sealing frame ( 6 ) comprises a substrate support ( 7 ) for receiving a substrate ( 5 ), and c) closure means ( 16 , 21 , 24 ) configured such that, by pressing against the first sealing surface of the deflectable sealing frame ( 6 ), it deflects the sealing frame ( 6 ) in the Z-direction perpendicular with respect to the XY-plane of the transport means until the second sealing surface of the deflectable sealing frame ( 6 ) contacts a chamber wall ( 32 , 31 ) neighboring the working station ( 15 , 18 , 30 ), so that due to the contact of the opposing sealing surfaces ( 10 , 11 ) with the closure means ( 16 , 21 , 24 ) as well as with the chamber wall ( 32 , 31 ) the area inside the sealing frame ( 6 ) is sealed in a vacuum-tight manner in order to thus seal a space around the working station ( 15 , 18 , 30 ), d) further comprising first and second springs (F 1 , F 2 ) for holding the deflectable sealing frame ( 6 ) without exertion of an external force in a central position in the Z-direction relative to the transport means ( 4 ) and for deflecting the sealing frame from the central position in the Z-direction, wherein the transport means ( 4 ) comprises first holding elements ( 4 a , 4 b ) separated apart from each other by a distance d 2 and the sealing frame ( 6 ) comprises a second holding element ( 13 a ) arranged between the first holding elements ( 4 a , 4 b ), and wherein the first spring F 1 is arranged between one ( 4 a ) of the first holding elements ( 4 a , 4 b ) and the second holding element ( 13 a ) and wherein two second springs (F 2 ) are arranged side by side of the first spring (F 1 ) and between the second holding element ( 13 a ) and the other one ( 4 b ) of the first holding elements ( 4 a , 4 b ).