Patent ID: 6871655

Claim:
A method for moving wafers within an automated wafer processing system, comprising the steps of: supporting an array of wafers at a support location; moving a robot having an engagement implement horizontally in a first direction, to a position where the engagement implement is vertically below the wafers to be moved; moving the robot vertically upwardly, to bring the engagement implement into contact with the wafers; lifting the wafers vertically upwardly, so that the wafers are supported on the engagement implement; moving the engagement implement horizontally in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to carry the wafers away from the support location; moving the robot to position the engagement implement supporting the wafers into alignment with a rotor; moving the robot horizontally to bring the engagement implement supporting the wafers into the rotor; moving the engagement implement vertically downwardly to set the wafers onto rotor supports in the rotor; and withdrawing the engagement implement from the rotor.