Patent ID: 7223153

Claim:
An apparatus for polishing objects, said apparatus comprising: a first object carrier positioned over a first polishing surface; a second object carrier positioned over a second polishing surface; a first object relay device positioned between said first and second object carriers, said first object relay device including a first load-and-unload cup and a first pivoting drive mechanism, said first pivoting drive mechanism being configured to pivot said first load-and-unload cup to and from said first and second object carriers about a first pivoting axis to transfer said objects from said first object carrier to said second object carrier; and a second object relay device positioned adjacent to one of said first and second object carriers, said second object relay device including a second load-and-unload cup and a second pivoting drive mechanism, said second pivoting mechanism being configured to pivot said second load-and-unload cup to and from one of said first and second object carriers about a second pivoting axis to transfer said objects to said first object carrier or from said second object carrier.