Patent ID: 7326021

Claim:
A device for automatically loading a load of silicon wafers to be treated in a diffusion oven and unloading treated silicon wafers from the diffusion oven, said load being placed on at least one cantilever adapted to receive all of a load to be treated, said load comprising a plurality of silicon wafers initially arranged in batches in a plurality of baskets, said device comprising: automatic multi-basket transfer equipment receiving on a reception area all the load to be treated, and effecting, after thermal treatment, the transfer of all of a treated load toward the reception area in their original positions according to a predetermined scenario and prerecorded in a memory of a multi-task supervisory unit that is electrically connected to said transfer equipment, the supervisory unit ensuring the supervision and control of various transfer operations, wherein the automatic multi-basket transfer equipment comprises: an automatic multi-basket transfer station, which includes said reception area having an upper surface of a horizontal plate, said load of silicon wafers to be treated being disposed on said horizontal plate in said baskets in an ordered manner in precise positions, said reception area being structured and arranged to receive eight to twelve baskets that each contain twenty-five wafers, a horizontally pivotal orientation support that supports at least one boat and that is electrically connected to the supervisory unit, an automatic multi-basket loading/unloading station that transfers the wafers from at least one of said baskets to said at least one boat, and that is electrically connected to the supervisory unit, a manipulating elevator having a system of ripping heads, said manipulating elevator transporting said at least one boat to said at least one cantilever and being electrically connected to the supervisory unit, at least one dock for storing empty boats, and at least one intelligent dock for storing boats containing screen loads, said intelligent dock being disposed adjacent to the manipulating elevator above the automatic multi-basket transfer station.