Patent ID: 7201823

Claim:
A method for the plasma treatment of a plurality of parts in a system including a chamber base, a reaction chamber capable of being sealingly engaged with the chamber base, and a transfer mechanism operated by an electronic control, the method comprising: disengaging the reaction chamber from the chamber base; sending loading signals from the electronic control to the transfer mechanism; loading the plurality of parts using the transfer mechanism from a position outside of the reaction chamber to a plurality of treatment positions above the chamber base; sealingly engaging the reaction chamber with the chamber base after the plurality of parts are loaded; evacuating the reaction chamber after the reaction chamber is engaged with the chamber base; generating a plasma within the reaction chamber to simultaneously treat the plurality of parts; venting the reaction chamber after the plurality of parts are plasma treated; disengaging the reaction chamber from the chamber base after the reaction chamber is vented; sending unloading signals from the electronic control to the transfer mechanism; and unloading the plurality of plasma-treated parts using the transfer mechanism from the plurality of treatment positions.