Patent ID: 7527698

Claim:
A method of removing a liquid from at least a part of a surface of a substrate, the substrate defining an outer edge, the method comprising: providing a first wetting liquid comprising isopropyl alcohol from a first supply on a portion of the surface of the substrate, wherein the first supply is affixed to a moveable arm; providing a non-wetting liquid consisting of water on the portion of the surface of the substrate from a second supply after supplying the first wetting liquid to the portion of the surface of the substrate, wherein the second supply is affixed to the moveable arm; providing a second wetting liquid consisting of a surfactant/water mixture on the portion of the surface of the substrate from a third supply after supplying the non-wetting liquid to the portion of the surface of the substrate, wherein the third supply is affixed to the moveable arm; and moving the moveable arm relative to the substrate, wherein the first, second, and third supplies move closer to the outer edge of the substrate with the second supply spaced further away from the outer edge of the substrate than the first supply; and wherein the first supply provides the first wetting liquid to the portion of the surface of the substrate and the second supply thereafter provides the non- wetting liquid to the portion of the surface of the substrate, and the third supply thereafter provides the surfactant/water mixture to the portion of the surface of the substrate as the first, second, and third supplies move closer to the outer edge of the substrate, whereby moving the moveable arm relative to the substrate removes the liquid from at least a part of the surface of the substrate.