Patent ID: 7066707

Claim:
A wafer engine for moving semiconductor workpieces, comprising: a linear drive assembly having a carriage, said linear drive assembly for moving said carriage between a first position and a second position along a first linear path, said first linear path defining an x-axis; a support column having a first end a second end, and a longitudinal central axis; a rotational drive housing mounted to said carriage, said rotational drive housing substantially enclosing a rotational drive being adapted to affix to said first end of said support column for rotating said support column about said longitudinal central axis, said longitudinal central axis defining a substantially vertical theta axis that is substantially perpendicular to said x-axis; a vertical drive column extending upward from a support member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said support member mounted to said second end of said support column such that said rotational drive rotates said support member and said vertical drive column about said theta axis; a z-axis drive assembly having a mechanism being adapted to move vertically within said vertical drive column between a first position and a second position along a second linear path; a slide body mounted to said mechanism, said slide body substantially enclosing a radial drive assembly being adapted to move an end effector between a first position and second position along a third linear path, said third linear path defining a radial axis; and wherein said theta axis is offset from a z-axis traveling substantially through the geometric center of said slide body.