Patent ID: 7010388

Claim:
For use with a tool for treating a work-piece at sub-atmospheric pressure, transfer apparatus comprising: a) one or more work-piece isolation load locks for transferring multiple work-pieces at a time from a higher pressure region to a lower pressure region and back to said higher pressure region, wherein each load lock is subjected to a pressurization and evacuation cycle in order to transfer the multiple work-pieces between the higher and lower pressure regions; b) a buffer that is maintained at the lower pressure during successive pressurization and evacuation cycles of the load lock, the buffer being for storing a plurality of work-pieces at the lower pressure in positions within the buffer accessible for automated transfer into and out of said buffer; and c) a robot including multiple independently operable transfer arms having a common pivot axis for transferring work-pieces from the work-piece load lock to the buffer or to a work-piece treatment station maintained at said lower pressure.