Patent ID: 8207047

Claim:
A method of simultaneously treating a plurality of workpieces, the method comprising: a) configuring a chamber with i) a plurality of nonoverlapping pairs of substantially identical sites, ii) a plurality of substantially identical stations, equal in number to the sites, comprising a pair of loading stations and a pair of unloading stations distinct from the loading stations, each configured with a lower heat-transfer body and an upper heat-transfer body, iii) a base, disposed between the lower heat-transfer bodies and the upper heat-transfer bodies, on which the sites are fixed, rotatable about an axis to align each of the pairs of sites in turn with the loading stations and the unloading stations; b) alternately, until all of the sites bear respective workpieces, at each loading station, loading a workpiece onto a vacant site and rotating the base to align a pair of vacant sites with the loading stations; and c) holding the base stationary while, in all of the stations simultaneously, treating the workpieces identically by moving the lower heat-transfer bodies toward respective workpieces and operating the upper and lower heat-transfer bodies to heat respective workpieces on all of the sites, aligned with respective stations.